Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra
The Bogotá Philharmonic Orchestra is the most important symphony orchestra in Colombia. It is a project maintained by the city of Bogotá and its Secretary Office of Culture, Recreation and Sport. Founded in 1967, it regularly performs at the Jorge Eliécer Gaitán Theater. Under the current venue's renovations, the orchestra performs at the Concert Halls of the Universidad Nacional de Colombia, the Leon de Greiff Auditorium, and the Jorge Tadeo Lozano University, the Fabio Lozano Auditorium.
Its current music director is the Brazilian conductor Ligia Amadio. Former conductors include the Israeli composer and conductor Lior Shambadal, the New York native conductor Irwin Hoffman, the Chilean conductor Francisco Retting, and two Mexican conductors: Eduardo Diazmuñoz and Enrique Diemecke.
The orchestra counts over 100 musicians and over 140 public performances a year, also recognized by the Latin Grammy in 2008.
In the city's effort to establish itself as region leader for culture and the arts, the Bogotá Philharmonic extends its functions as classical orchestra to include the promotion and support of multiple music, dance and theater events, including world known Rock al Parque and related series of acts such as Opera al Parque, Jazz al Parque, Hip Hop al Parque, Dance Festivals and Theater Festivals.
