“Philharmonic” – translating from Greek, it's a merging of two fine words “love” and “harmony”… These capacious concepts reflect its true purpose as an organisation of culture which propagandizes high art, then, light and beauty.

The history of the Omsk philarmonic society began with a variety-concert bureau, and only on the 1 st January, 1940 under the decision of Department of art affairs at Council of People's Comissars of the USSR it was established officially. The first location of Philharmonic was a building of a cinema "Khudojestvenny", collected under its vaults musical collectives of the city. Here came to work the invited artists from other cities of Russia. Various creative groups, from classical up to variety, which gave concerts all around the city, worked here: in schools, shops, clubs and a recreation centers.

During war time concert brigades of the Omsk philarmonic society went to a front line, performed in hospitals, at the enterprises and other concert stages. As they could, artists supported their fellow-citizens in a difficult minute, and music helped them.

In 1950 the State Omsk Russian folk chorus was created, based on talented, singing and dancing youth of Siberia. Its emblem - a dancing bear with a balalaika - has travelled with collective all around the world: from Czechoslovakia up to New Zealand. Today artists of Chorus - numerous prize-winners of many competitions and festivals. However, the very first award - 1 st premium and a gold medal of the World festival of youth and students in Bucharest (1953) is the most memorable.

In December, 1966 the people of our city got a long-awaited opportunity to listen to the favourite classical music not only on radio or TV. As a result of cooperation of a Philarmonic society and Shebalin Musical college, the Omsk symphonic orchestra was created. The founder, the first chief conductor and art director was the People's artist of the RSFSR Semen Kogan . In 1984 musicians won the first prize at the All-Russia competition of orchestras. On May, 7, 1996 the orchestra received an academic rank. After many years of work the orchestra has reached a high professional level.

In 1967 under Albert Karimov's project - the chief architect of Omsk - the modern building of the Concert Hall (Lenin Street, 27A) was built. It's there the Omsk philarmonic society is placed today.

In 1983 the organ was set up in St.Nicolas cathedral, and Philarmonic society got a new chamber hall. In 1990 the Cathedral was returned to Omsk-Tara Eparchy. In 2002 there was a grand opening of a new Organ and chamber music Hall of the Omsk philarmonic society, which is situated in a building of a former recreation center "Khudojestvenny".

Nowadays the musicians who previously worked in Omsk, and have gained the All-Russia and world popularity. Artists of former variety collective of the Philarmonic society “Na estrade omichi” (“There are Omsk citizens at the stage”) are popular actors of cinema Liubov Polischuk and Valery Makarov. In March, 2005 in concert halls of the Philarmonic society for the first time in history of Omsk Priistyshie the F estival of compatriots “Gde-to est gorod…” («There is a city somewhere … ») has passed. It collected more than ten well-known musicians from all the world, among which there were Semen Kogan , Alexander Vinnitsky, Eteri Gwazava and many others.

Omsk philarmonic society is the initiator and the organizer of such large cultural forums, as International organ festival with participation of leading world organists, the International jazz festival under the leadership of Daniel Kramer. An Inter-regional children's festival-competition of Russian songs of a name of E. Kalugina, Omsk region Festival «Soul of Russia» and many other cultural events of Omsk city and region successfully pass with Philharmonic's active participation and support.

Often visitors of the Philarmonic society are stars of a world stage. In different years on the halls of the Philarmonic performed M.Rostropovich, J.Temirkanov, K.Eliasberg, L.Ginzburg, G.Provatorov, N.Petrov, V.Repin, A.Tretjakov, L.Isakadze, S.Stadler, such organists as G.Grodberg, O.Janchenko, A.Fisejsky etc. There are a lot of its own talents. They are singers Svetlana Borodina and Nadejda Komarova , masters of an art word Alla Enina and Elena Tcheredova, the pianist and composer Alexander Boldyrev, balalaika player Victor Shurygin, bayan player Alexander Korchevoj and many, many others.

Nowadays the Omsk philarmonic society has the following collectives:

- The Omsk academic symphony orchestra was set up in 1967 by the People's artist of the RSFSR Semen Kogan . Since 1978 - V.Tits was the chief conductor and artistic director; the Honoured Art Worker of Russia E.Shestakov was the chief conductor and artistic director since 1991; D.Vasiljev is the chief conductor, and E.Samoilov is artistic director since 2005;

- The Omsk State Ensemble of Russian Folk singing and dancing was established in 1950 by the Honored Art worker of RSFSR E.V.Kalugina, her deed was continued by G.N.Pantjukov; today A.K.Zobov is artistic director;

- The Omsk chamber orchestra was established in 1974 by G.Petrenko and M.Kugel, in 1987 it was broken up in connection with departure of its heads, it was created again in 1991 (the Honoured Art Worker of Russia V.B.Renkonchinsky is the orchestra director);

- The Omsk Concert Brass orchestra has become the Philarmonic's group since 1999, before it was municipal collective (the chief conductor is S.S.Arbuzov );

- A philharmonic department consists of the orchestra of jazz and popular music “Kvadrat” ("Square"), a quintet of wind-instruments "Classics", soloists-instrumentalists, soloists-vocalists, masters of an art word, the musicologist - exists since the moment of its creation (artistic director is A.P.Bubnova, director is I.N.Pronina);

- The children's philarmonic society was created in 1984, has no regular collective, its the main aim is propagation of children's art, discovering of young talents of Omsk region, it organizes thematic concerts of children's collectives of city and area, joint concerts of gifted children and professional collectives and musicians (the director is S.V.Muzafarova)