The Espoo City Orchestra was founded in 1987. The orchestra was made up of top young professional musicians, and about half of the original members still play in the orchestra today. In 1991, the orchestra took the name Tapiola Sinfonietta, and over the decades it has established itself as one of Europe's most respected chamber orchestras.
Since 2000, the orchestra has had a management model in which a management team consisting of two musicians and an intendant is responsible for the orchestra's artistic planning. This spirit of dialogue and multidisciplinarity also extends to collaborations with artistic partners, artists in residence, guest conductors, and soloists. In the 2025/26 season, cellist Nicolas Altstaedt will join as a new artistic partner, alongside conductor Ryan Bancroft and guitarist-composer Marzi Nyman, who will continue in their roles.
The orchestra's home venue is the Espoo Cultural Center, but its performances also reach audiences outside concert halls. Its exceptionally wide-ranging audience outreach work in Espoo reaches all age groups, from babies to seniors.
The orchestra regularly visits domestic festivals. Visits abroad have strengthened its international reputation, alongside its award-winning discography.
