Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra

Founded in 1958 by legendary cellist and humanitarian Pablo Casals, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra (Orquesta Sinfónica de Puerto Rico, OSPR) is the leading orchestral institution of Puerto Rico and a cultural pillar of the Caribbean. With a mission rooted in artistic excellence, cultural pride, and educational outreach, the OSPR maintains a vital presence in the region's musical life and serves as a prominent ambassador for Puerto Rican artistry worldwide. 

The OSPR presents a full 44-week season at the Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals, located at the Luis A. Ferré Performing Arts Center in San Juan. Its programming includes a dynamic mix of subscription concerts, chamber music, family and pops concerts, opera and ballet collaborations, educational performances, and extensive community engagement initiatives. The orchestra is a frequent partner of the Casals Festival and other major cultural organizations on the Island. 

Renowned for its versatility, OSPR's repertoire encompasses symphonic masterworks, new music, and works by Puerto Rican and Latin American composers, including Héctor Campos Parsi, Ernesto Cordero, Angélica Negrón, and Johanny Navarro. The orchestra has performed internationally throughout the Caribbean, Central America, the United States, and Europe, and has served as the official orchestra of Operalia, the international vocal competition founded by Plácido Domingo. 

In August 2022, the OSPR presented Sonidos de Mi Isla (Sounds of My Island) at Chicago's Symphony Center, marking its first-ever performance in the city. The concert, held on August 6, 2022, was presented in collaboration with the National Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture as part of the museum's cultural programming. On this historic occasion, the orchestra was honored with the Ceiba Award, the museum's highest distinction, recognizing the OSPR's decades-long leadership in preserving Puerto Rican musical heritage, fostering the next generation of artists, and elevating the Island's cultural presence on the global stage. 

Education and accessibility are central to the orchestra's mission. Through school concerts, mentorship programs, residencies, and workshops, the OSPR inspires musical growth, cultural awareness, and meaningful community connection across generations. 

Since its inaugural concert in 1958 in Mayagüez under Casals's direction — with violinist José "Pepito" Figueroa as soloist — the OSPR has thrived under the artistic leadership of esteemed conductors including Mstislav Rostropovich, Krzysztof Penderecki, Alexander Schneider, Juan José Castro, Odón Alonso, Guillermo Figueroa, and conductor emeritus Roselín Pabón. 

Currently under the direction of music director Maximiano Valdés, internationally celebrated for his musical integrity and advocacy for Latin American repertoire, and associate conductor Rafael Enrique Irizarry, the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra continues to shape the island's cultural future with purpose and vision. Performing regularly at the Sala Sinfónica Pablo Casals, a state-of-the-art venue inaugurated in 2008, the OSPR remains steadfast in its commitment to artistic innovation, cultural affirmation, and global impact.