In May 1981, under the auspices of the Department of Culture, Youth and Sports in Penang, the Penang Symphony Society successfully launched its full symphony orchestra, the Penang Symphony Orchestra (PSO). It is a non-profit Organisation which provides opportunities for music lovers of all levels to promote and develop the understanding of classical music as well as to enrich our society with higher quality of life. The full symphony has given numerous public concerts with would renowned artist from abroad.

In 1985, the PSO was invited to participate in the "Come out festival" in south Australia where it won high praise from the music critics. In the same year, the POS was again invited to perform in South Thailand for the celebration of the princess of Thailand's Birthday and was televised nationwide.

In 1989, Under "The People to people Culture Exchange" The PSO was invited to give a series of public concerts in the whole of Taiwan. In 1990, The POS was officially chosen by the Penang State Government to perform for the King's official visit in Penang

In 1992, the POS was invited by Russian Embassy to perform with Russian world-renowned musicians, Sergei Dorenski and Mstislav Smirnov to give a gala performance in honour to the King and Queen in the nation's capital, Kuala Lumpur.

In 1993, POS was again invited by the South Australian Art Trust and Elder Conservatorium of Music in Adelaide to give a very successful concert tour in various cities in South Australia. In 1996, the POS was invited officially by the Governor of Kumamoto and the Kumamoto Prefecture Theater to represent Malaysia and to participate in the 14th Kumamoto International Youth Music Festival. The PSO also gave successful performance in various towns and cities in Kushyu together with other orchestras from Canada, Germany and Japan. Again under the baton of its Music Director, Woon Wen Kin, the PSO received high praise from the Japanese audience and a special documentary program featuring the Penang Symphony Orchestra was televised nationwide by the KTV (Kumamoto Television)

To day, the PSO is the only local orchestra that has the privilege to be invited internationally and represent Malaysia at the above Youth Music Festival.

Under the baton of the Music Director, Maestro Woon Wen Kin, the Penang Symphony Orchestra takes the lead again to perform this year for the Tuan Yang Terutama Birthday Concert for the past 18 years continuously.

In April 1999, The Penang Symphony Society launch the state's premier and only symphonic band, the Penang Wind Orchestra (PWO). This movement by the Penang Symphony Society is to provide facilities to enable more potential and committed young wind players, who has shown their keenness and talents in music making to develop their performing skills by exposing to more challenging and advance music.

In January 2000, The Penang Symphony Society launched the nation's only children orchestra is to provide an avenue for young children at an early age to develop their talents and experiences in making orchestral music.

Objectives

The objectives of the Penang Symphony Society are as follows:

• To encourage music performance especially symphonic music with the aim of raising its standard in the Penang State.

• To organize courses, practices and performances for the orchestra members.

• To contribute towards the formation of a national culture through music this is international in character by encouraging compositions and presentations with local style.

• To improve and upgrade the standard of music making and techniques through performances and workshops with foreign professional artistes.

• To arrange and organize concerts in order that the public can be given a chance to experience and to entertained by performances of high standard.

• To foster closer friendship, mutual understanding and racial harmony among the young and the senior people through music.

• To conduct all activities which are in line with the above objectives