Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León

The Castilla y León Symphony Orchestra (OSCyL), one of Spain’s most prestigious symphonic institutions, is a project of the Regional Government of Castilla y León. It gave its first performance in 1991 and, since 2007 it has been based at the Miguel Delibes Cultural Centre in Valladolid. The Swiss conductor Thierry Fischer is the current Music Director, with Vasily Petrenko and Elim Chan serving as Associate Conductors. Max Bragado-Darman, Alejandro Posada, Lionel Bringuier and Andrew Gourlay have previously held the position of Principal Conductor.

Since the 2022–2023 season, the orchestra has offered annual artistic residencies, featuring artists such as Javier Perianes, Antoine Tamestit, Emmanuel Pahud, Kirill Gerstein and Pablo Ferrández. In the 2026–2027 season, it will host the violinist Midori. From 2023–2024 onwards, it has also introduced composer residencies (Anna Clyne, Gabriela Ortiz and Francisco Coll). In the 2026–2027 season, American composer Andrew Norman will begin his residency.

With a strong commitment to the entire territory of the Castilla y León region, the orchestra performs regularly in each of its nine provinces, as well as in Spain’s principal venues and festivals. Internationally, it has appeared in Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, France, the Netherlands, Norway, India, Oman and the United States, including venues such as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, Carnegie Hall, the Elbphilharmonie, and a residency at the Cartagena International Music Festival (Colombia).

The orchestra regularly collaborates with many of today’s most renowned soloists and conductors. It has commissioned numerous works, as well as performing premieres and rediscoveries. This work is supported by its discography, which includes releases on labels such as Deutsche Grammophon, BIS, Naxos, Tritó, Verso and Signum. It is currently recording a cycle of Bruckner’s symphonies with Vasily Petrenko for the latter label.

With nearly four thousand annual subscribers, more than a thousand come from over twenty towns across Castilla y León, thanks to a free coach service provided by the regional government, aimed at enhancing accessibility and extending the reach of its activities across the region.

OSCyL takes particular pride in the MiraDas programme, its socio-educational area shared with the Miguel Delibes Cultural Centre. It also actively coordinates the Sentir la Música and In Crescendo programmes, in collaboration with the Regional Ministry of Education of Castilla y León, which are delivered in schools with pupils at risk of social exclusion and in special education centres. It also presents concerts for schools and families, and hosts open rehearsals and music workshops for babies and early childhood.

Within this educational work, special mention should also be made of the OSCyL Joven (a youth orchestra created in the 2022–2023 season), whose aim is to promote the talent of younger generations in Castilla y León. This youth orchestra encourages a spirit of social engagement through volunteering, and its members have the opportunity to work with leading international guest conductors and, above all, with the permanent members of OSCyL, thereby fostering the development of future talent from within the heart of the orchestra.