Iraqi National Symphony Orchestra

It performed for approximately two years and was disbanded after Albert Chaffoo, its conductor and founder, left Iraq and returned to London to continue his musical career.

[1][2][3] The orchestra became officially known as the Iraqi National Symphony in 1959 when its members began to receive a salary from the government.

The INSO was abolished by the Iraqi Minister of Culture in 1962 and rehearsed underground until 1970, when it was re-established.

Over the next ten years, the Orchestra toured France, Spain, Algeria, Lebanon and Jordan,[4] and hosted guest musicians and conductors from many countries.

Representative of the diversity of Iraq, its 90+ musicians now include Shi'a, Sunni, Kurds, Turkoman, Armenians and Christians, as well as six women, one of whom is the first American woman to join in the history of the orchestra.