Flanders Symphony Orchestra (FSO) is one of Belgium’s leading orchestras. Composed of highly committed and passionate musicians, and led by renowned conductors, Flanders Symphony Orchestra both commissions and performs new compositions as well as electrifying renditions of the main symphonic repertoire from the classical period onwards.
The orchestra was founded in 1960. Chief conductors have included David Angus, Etienne Siebens, Seikyo Kim and Jan Latham-Koenig. Since 2019, Kristiina Poska has been the chief conductor of the orchestra. Thanks to its concert series in all major venues of Flanders and Brussels, the orchestra succeeds in reaching a large and loyal audience. In addition, the orchestra is a welcome guest at international venues and festivals.
FSO is in residence at Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, Ghent (member of the UNESCO Creative Cities of Music Network), and receives support from the Flemish Government and the City of Ghent. The orchestra fulfills an exemplary role in projects focussing on the development of young and talented musicians, composers and conductors as well as creating outreach and educational projects.
→ Full biography symfonieorkest.be/orchestra
→ Full details at kristiinaposka.com/biography
→ Watch: Kristiina Poska & FSO, Beethoven Symphony no. 2
“From the start I could immediately identify myself with the fresh, inspiring and committed way in which Flanders Symphony Orchestra makes music and with the unique atmosphere of the historical Bijloke concert hall in Ghent, which could not better represent the mentality and way of making music I believe in based on awareness of the past, looking to the future with flexibility and curiosity, and cherishing the mystery of the moment.”
Kristiina PoskaConductor Kristiina Poska (Türi, Estonia) started her musical career in Tallinn, where she studied choir conducting. She later went to Berlin and studied orchestral conducting with professor Christian Ehwald at the Hanns Eisler Hochschule für Musik. From 2012 till 2016 she was the first conductor (Kapellmeister) of the Komische Oper Berlin company. In 2019–20, Poska became chief conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra and since 2021–22 she is Principal Guest Conductor of the Latvian National Symphony Orchestra. From 2025 onwards Kristiina Poska takes up the role of Music Director of the Orchestre Français des Jeunes (French Youth Orchestra).
In addition to her successful opera career, Kristiina Poska is sought after as a concert conductor in many countries. Among others, she worked with the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra, Orchestre National de France, the Hallé, Oregon Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra,
hr-Sinfonieorchester, MDR Sinfonieorchester, WDR Sinfonieorchester Köln, Gothenburg Symphony, NHK Symphony Orchestra, NHK Symphony Orchestra, Orchestre de Chambre de Lausanne, Münchner Philharmoniker, London Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Stockholm Philharmonic Orchestra, Tonkünstler Orchester Niederösterreich, Camerata Salzburg and Die Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen.
In 2013, Poska won the coveted conductor award of the Dirigentenforum of the Deutsche Musikrat. “Only few can master a musical palette that is as wide as Kristiina Poska’s,” the German press wrote. She also made the finals of the Donatella Flick Competition, as well as the Malko Competition in 2012, where she captured both the third prize and the audience award.
From January 2026
Chief conductor of Flanders Symphony Orchestra
“To me, Flanders Symphony Orchestra is a truly unique orchestra in every sense. It combines a beautifully transparent sound with an infectious energy and a true joy of playing. The musicians have a desire to dive deeper into every score they play, discovering new ways to read and feel the music and connect it to our present day. With its innovative structure, the organization positions everybody on- and offstage to set the course for orchestras in the 21st century. I'm extremely grateful for the orchestra’s confidence
in
me through the years, and I'm thrilled to be a part of their bright future.”
Martijn Dendievel
→ Full details at martijndendievel.com
→ Watch Martijn Dendievel conduct Porgy and Bess by G. Gershwin
Since January 2022, Martijn is Associate Conductor of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra. This appointment follows his tenure as assistant conductor from 2018 to 2021. Each season, Martijn conducts a production for which he designs the concert programme himself. Additionally, he oversees the youth orchestra SOV Young.
In 2021 Martijn won the Deutsche Dirigentenpreis. In the same year he won the first Conductors' Academy of the Tonhalle Orchestra Zürich and was a finalist in the LSO Donatella Flick Competition. In June 2022, he was the laureate of the first edition of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam. From 2016 to 2020 he was Principal Guest Conductor of the Akademisches Orchester Halle and is supported as 'Maestro of Tomorrow' by the Forum Dirigieren of the German Music Council. From the 2024–25 season he will be chief conductor of the Hofer Symphoniker. In January 2026 he will become chief conductor of Flanders Symphony Orchestra. Next to this Martijn works together with orchestras like Orchestra del Teatro Comunale Bologna, Sinfonia Varsovia and WDR Sinfonieorchester.
He grew up in a family of musicians and took his first musical steps on the violin. He later switched to the cello and also studied percussion and harpsichord in Bruges. Before his fifteenth birthday, he was admitted to the Royal Conservatory of Brussels, where four years later he obtained a Bachelor of Music degree with distinction. In July 2022, Martijn completed his Master's degree in orchestral conducting in the class of Prof. Nicolás Pasquet and Prof. Ekhart Wycik at the Hochschule für Musik Franz Liszt Weimar.
For over sixty years, Flanders Symphony Orchestra has been exploring every corner of the symphonic repertoire. The orchestra not only focuses on the bestknown works of established masters, but devotes extensive attention to new music and to compositions that are regrettably less often performed. Both established and emerging talent work together on these projects.
FSO combines the grand symphonic gesture with a chamber music approach, resulting in the orchestra’s typical transparent, but at the same time compact ‘sound’. Its committed and energetic musicians play the whole palette of musical expression and rhetoric in unison, always with a special eye for detail and refinement.
Since 2020, under the leadership of chief conductor Kristiina Poska, FSO has been walking a double artistic track. Particular attention is paid to the romantic repertoire, the main focus lying on the symphonies of Ludwig van Beethoven. Both musicians and conductor are constantly amazed by the mystery of his music and by the endless possibilities that lie within it to (re)discover themselves. By taking the entire cycle to the stage and by recording it, FSO gives even more shape and strength to its musical DNA.
Apart from that, the orchestra focusses on the repertoire from England, across Scandinavia to the Baltic States: Pärt, Vaughan Williams, Rautavaara, Walton, Sibelius… An explorative journey for both orchestra and conductor!
As a 21st century orchestra, Flanders Symphony Orchestra presents programmes that more than once leave the beaten track and create a contemporary dialogue between past and present, between orchestra and audience.
Sibelius' finest
J. Brahms, Concerto for Violin
J. Sibelius, Symphony no. 2
L. Mortelmans, Elegie no. 2
Beethoven6
G. Mahler (Britten), What the wild flowers tell me
E. Tüür, Illuminatio for Viola and orchestra
MozartandAho
W.A. Mozart, Ouverture from Don Giovanni
K. Aho, Double concerto for Harp and Flute
W.A. Mozart, Symphony no. 40
L. van Beethoven, Symphony no. 6 'Pastorale' Bolero
J.P. Rameau, Suite from 'Les Indes Galantes'
I. Stravinsky, Pulcinella
L. Berio, Folk Songs
MozartRequiem
T. Kõrvits, Kreek's Notebook
W.A. Mozart, Requiem
M. Ravel, Bolero Protest
J. Haydn, Symphony no. 45
'Abschied'
E. Elgar, Concerto for Cello
D. Shostakovich, Symphony no. 9
Sibelius' ViolinConcerto
F. Nuyts, Different from habit
J. Sibelius, Concerto for Violin
C. Nielsen, Symphony no. 4
Beethoven9
A. Van Parys, Creation for Choir and Orchestra
L. van Beethoven, Symphony no. 9
MahlerandBeethoven
G. Mahler, Symphony no. 4
L. van Beethoven, Symphony no. 4
Flanders Symphony Orchestra works with renowned soloists and conductors and is a welcome guest at both national and international venues.
“A truly special ensemble with a unique musical sensitivity and dedication to the symphonic narrative.”
“ The music world’s best kept musical secret.”
“ The FSO stands out for its vibrant energy and exceptional musicianship, which make every collaboration memorable. Working with them is not just a performance, it's an enriching experience that resonates long after the last note is played.”
Esper Linnamägi, managing director Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir
“ The best of both worlds: a chamber music inspired intensity and intimacy, combined with a sweeping symphonic sound that is truly breathtaking.”
“ The collective approach to musicmaking combined with a strong command of each epoch’s stylistic demands create engaging and exciting performances.”
“It is a pleasure to work with Kristiina Poska and FSO we have collaborated on some very interesting creative projects. Kristiina has great skill and attention to detail, and the orchestra always reacts with energy and enthusiasm.”
With concert series in Antwerp, Bruges and Ghent and performances all over Belgium, Flanders Symphony Orchestra is a fixed value in Belgium. In 2017, the orchestra made its entry into Muziekcentrum De Bijloke Ghent as its new home.
“For a concert venue such as Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, permanently in search for artistic quality and creative formats, it’s an absolute godsend to have the adventurous, passionate and open minded FSO in residence. Under its current chief conductor, Kristiina Poska, the orchestra achieves the highest musical standards and appeals to a large and enthusiastic audience . On top of that it shows, thanks to its motivated artistic staff, a rare talent for introducing innovative and exciting projects. A match made in heaven!”
Geert Riem, CEO Muziekcentrum De Bijloke Ghent
“Since 2017, the orchestra has been based in the city of Ghent. Muziekcentrum De Bijloke, the oldest concert hall in the world, is our ideal home. It is a monumental place that inspires with its good acoustics and gives a huge boost to the artistic development of the orchestra. It is a privilege for Flanders Symphony Orchestra to be in residence at De Bijloke.”
Jos Roeden,, CEO Flanders Symphony Orchestra
Flanders Symphony Orchestra can count on the support of heartwarming audiences in Belgium’s most important concert halls and — in crescendo — abroad.
“…the strings played with commendable attack and athleticism, and the playing of the woodwind and brass was confident, fresh and translucent in quality…”
Bachtrack
“…boasting a talented woodwind section, strings who were rhythmically precise with first rate intonation, and an impressively strong brass section, they responded with great energy and expressive extremes to the conductor…”
Yorkshire Times “ There is something about the juvenescence of the Flanders Symphony Orchestra that appears to define it entirely from its bracing sound to its managerial dexterity… adopting values and management structures that appear to keep it eternally young” Gramophone “FSO developed its own sound culture. The orchestra plays with extraordinary agility and flexibility, with bright and powerful brass and woodwinds, with spirited strings that manage to combine agility and transparency with real sound allure.”
Klassisk, Denmark
(5)
(1)
(3)
(4)
(2)
(1) UK
Edinburgh, Usher Hall
London, Cadogan Hall
Sheffield, City Hall
(2) Germany
Wuppertal, Historische Stadthalle
(3) France
Paris, La Seine
Musicale
(4) The Netherlands
Amsterdam, Concertgebouw
Utrecht, TivoliVredenburg
Amsterdam, Muziekgebouw
aan 't IJ
Arnhem, Musis
(5) Estonia
Tallinn, Estonia
Concert Hall
Pärnu, Pärnu
Concert Hall
Tartu, Vanemuine Concert Hall
“ We are always on the lookout for the creators and performers of tomorrow, and challenge them to enter into dialogue with the orchestra through sustainable development paths. Together with the young generation, we are building the future!”
Kristiina Poska, conductor
Flanders Symphony Orchestra is a laboratory for young people. It warms up their enthusiasm for art and music through the youth orchestra SOV Young and through a series of educational and social artistic project. FSO also offers a warm and safe home to talented musicians, conductors and composers who are building promising careers. Projects like SOV Young Soloist, masterclasses and FSO Composers' Academy help young talents to take the next step in their careers.
→ FSO Composers' Academy
→ SOV Young – Youth Orchestra
→ Discover all our talent development programmes
Watch our performances
→ L. v. Beethoven, Symphony no. 2
→ E. Rautavaara, Cantus Arcticus
→ J. Sibelius, Symphony no. 1
→ … and many more
Together with chief conductor
Kristiina Poska Flanders Symphony Orchestra currently records the complete Beethoven cycle for the label Fuga Libera (Outhere Music). The second volume of this series is scheduled to launch in October 2024. Recent highlights also include recorded performances of Sibelius' First Symphony , Beethoven's Second Symphony, and Rautavaara's captivating Cantus Arcticus .
Beethoven
Complete Symphonies Vol. 2 Nos. 2 & 3
“It's a pleasure to be FSO’s recording partner. Kristiina Poska does a wonderful job of conducting all the energetic enthusiasm and youthful vitality into wonderful music. Please keep on going!”
Charles Adriaenssen, CEO Outhere Music
Jos Roeden, CEO
→ jos.roeden@symfonieorkest.be
Stephanie Dierckxsens, Artistic coordination
→ stephanie.dierckxsens@symfonieorkest.be
Veronique Vennekens, Communication & press
→ veronique.vennekens@symfonieorkest.be
→ youtube.com/symfonieorkestvl
→ @symfonieorkest
→ @symfonieorkestvlaanderen
→ @symfonieorkestvlaanderen