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Rare distinction for Indian symphony orchestra

The country's only symphony orchestra, which is maintained by the Delhi Symphony Society, has been admitted as a member of the International Alliance of Orchestra Associations.

The alliance, which is headquartered in Stockholm in Sweden, decided at a special meeting in Tokyo recently to admit India and Hungary into the world body after considering the applications of these two countries and Korea.

Delhi Symphony Society honorary secretary Gautam Kaul, who was in Tokyo to espouse India's cause, said the society's entry was a major achievement as the alliance normally admits only national orchestras. ''India does not have a national orchestra, but the work of the society to develop a national forum for Western classical music was considered important enough to merit admission.''

The society and orchestra also secured membership of the Association of Orchestras of Asia and the Pacific Rim during the Tokyo summit last month.

About 100 representatives from 21 Asian countries attended the Tokyo summit from November 13 to 15. The summit was organised by the Association of Japanese Symphony Orchestras. The next summit will be held in Oslo in October.

UNI

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