Penang State Symphony Orchextra & Chorus (PESSOC) was initiated in 1996 with the appointment of Mark Ostyn as Resident conductor of both orchestra and chorus. This was followed by the appointment of Khoo Hooi Lay as Resident chorus mistress in 1998.

In 2002 Jascha Y. Shimano became Resident conductor for the orchestra.Building on the good work of Mark Ostyn he was able to bring the orchestra to the next level The principal objectives of PESSOC are :

A) to enhance the quality of life of the people of Penang by presenting live classical music of a high standard

B) to promote the cultural and educational development of the people particular the young by providing opportunities to learn music and take part in the activities of both the orchestra and chorus

C) to promote the cultural development and activi ties of the state by building a symphony orchestra and choir of quality

The last ten years have seen significant progress in achieving the above objectives Major orchestral/choral concerts were held at least twice a year featuring masterpieces from the classical repertoire These include Beethoven's towering masterpiece - Symphony no 9 (choral) in successive years which attracted Participation from other states as far as Sarawak.1998 1999. These were followed by excerpts from Verdi Requiem In 2001. In 2006 PESSOC celebrated the bicentenary of the birth of Mozart with his Requiem and excerpts from his famous operas. In program building PESSOC seeks to present not only the familiar masterworks but also less well-known But worthwhile pieces. In 2000 for instance it performed Dvorak's Symphony no 9 (New World) as well as the hauntingly beautiful Aria from Villa Lobos' Bachianas Brasileiras for soprano and eight celli. Workshops and music camps are held regularly to not just to prepare for performances but to develop local potentials among Young people. In 2000 both a training orchestra (PESTO***) and a training choir were both established. Local talents are given the chance and encouragement to come to the fore. A shinning example was the performance of Rachmaninov's Second Piano Concerto in 2005 with local boy Loo Bang Hean in the solo part.

It was a signal success. This year PESSOC held the first Penang Choral Fest with five choirs participating which brought the benefit of expert choral tutoring for the Symphony Chorus and four school choirs at the same time.PESSOC activities are not confined within the state. In 2000 both orchestra and chorus were invited to perform in Sarawak and Kuala Lumpur. In the following year in Adelaide Australia as part of Penang Week there. In 2002 the Symphony Chorus under Khoo Hooi Lay performed in three cities in Japan and Xiamen in 2006.

Under the chairmanship of YB Datuk Dr Toh Kin Woon PESSOC has seen further progress with a flurry of activities in the first seven months of 2007.

*** To further its role as a training program PESSOC established the Penang State Junior Orchestra (PESJO) in 2003. And in 2006 in view of its growing statute PESTO was renamed PESCE (Penang State Children Ensemble) which significantly means 'fish' in Italian.

Hopefully, the little fish will soon grow up to thrive in the exciting and challenging Ocean of music.