The Phoenix Symphony is a symphony orchestra based in Phoenix, Arizona that began in 1947 when the city was still in its formative stages, with a population of less than 100,000. Today, nearly three times that number of people currently experience the Phoenix Symphony every year, with 275 concerts and other events given by the orchestra between the months of September and May. The Phoenix Symphony is widely considered to be one of the premier symphony orchestras in the Southwest United States, and it has hosted several distinguished guest performers and conductors, such as Mstislav Rostropovich, Van Cliburn and Yo-Yo Ma, just to name a few.