In 1988, on the initiative of the Conservatoire’s rector Prof. V. Chernushenko and the Dean of orchestral studies Prof. G. Nikitin the students’ chamber orchestra of the Conservatoire was re-established following internal competition within the faculty of orchestral studies. Honoured Artist of Russia Prof. L. Schinder became its artistic director.Very soon the orchestra began giving concerts abroad, several times touring in Germany and the United States.

In 1990 the orchestra was named best orchestra at the international festival of youth orchestras in Spain.Many well-known conductors have worked with the orchestra, such as V. Chernushenko, S. Sondetskis, Resch (Germany), Star (Austria), Sternberg (Argentine), A. Chernushenko and others. Upon graduation from the Conservatoire all the orchestra members as a whole were given the status of the State Hermitage orchestra and became known as the St. Petersburg Camerata Orchestra.

In 1999 a new competition was held to form a new chamber orchestra of the St. Petersburg Conservatoire. Honoured Artist of Russia and assistant professor of the violin and viola chair of the Conservatoire M. Estrin was appointed its director. Within a very short time it received high acclaim and gained recognition not only in St. Petersburg but also in Finland, Poland, France, Spain and Germany.

The orchestra’s wide repertoire includes wellknown classical music, music of famous composers not often performed as well as compositions written by contemporary composers.