The Philips Symphony Orchestra (PSO) has grown in 85 years time to one of the biggest and best known volunteer-symphony orchestras in the Netherlands. The 90+ members of the PSO are music teachers and skilled non-professionals from the greater Eindhoven area. The orchestra plays five different programs per year in famous concert halls like the Eindhoven Muziekgebouw and the Amsterdam Concertgebouw. The PSO also made several CD- and DVD-recordings. Next to the great symphonic repertoire, the PSO also plays popular music at festivals and other specials occasions. In it's long history, the PSO has shown that it can play classical music at a high level while having fun as well. The weekly rehearsals end every month with drinks, the yearly social highlight is the offsite weekend. Next to that the PSO regularly performs abroad. After China (twice), Thailand and Italy the PSO played in 2011 several successful concerts in Brazil. The PSO is also an active community orchestra. Every year it organizes free family-concerts, where children get the opportunity to learn more about the symphonic repertoire. For more than 25 years, Jules van Hessen is the inspiring principal conductor of the PSO