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On May 20, the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra – an illustrious musical group and especially valuable cultural heritage object of the Krasnoyarsk Region – will celebrate its 30th anniversary​.

The history of the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra is inextricably linked with the Department of String Instruments of the Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Arts, and at the origins of both the Department and the Orchestra was the Honorary Citizen of Krasnoyarsk, Honored Art Worker of Russia, Professor Mikhail Benyumov. The then student orchestra of the institute, which he led since 1985, actively participated in the concert life of the city. In May of 1993, it finally became a professional endeavor. The Orchestra was and is 100% made up of Krasnoyarsk residents – the best graduates and students of the institute, many of whom were or are students of Benyumov himself. Most of the musicians are prize-winners of regional, all-Russian and international competitions, equally outstanding both in the team and as soloists. Thanks to this, the Orchestra boasts of shared school of music, ensemble teamwork and unique signature style. Famous domestic and foreign musicians performed with the Orchestra, while various joint projects connect the Chamber Orchestra with the best choirs and orchestras of the city.

In 2001, the Orchestra was highly regarded by maestro Piero Bellugi of the Consortium of Violinmakers "Antonio Stradivari", who, after speaking at the reception of the Mayor of Krasnoyarsk P.I. Pimashkov, stated that such a highly professional team lacks only one thing, and it's Italian musical instruments. Not long after, the Krasnoyarsk City Administration purchased two violins, two cellos and a viola made by the best contemporary masters at Cremona for the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra.

The orchestra, having been one of the main trademarks of the city for all of the 30 years of existence, represents Krasnoyarsk in prestigious international festivals in Russia and abroad. Thus, Siberian musicians performed in the best concert halls of the world: the golden hall Wiener Musikverein in Vienna, Austria, the Valencia Music Palace in Valencia, Spain, the Castello Sforzesco in Milan, Italy, as well as at various concert venues of Spain, Germany, Poland, France, China and other countries. In Moscow, the orchestra conducted by maestro Benyumov performed at the State Central Museum of Musical Culture n.a. M.I. Glinka and the International House of Music, and in St. Petersburg successfully held concerts in the Grand and Small Halls of the Saint Petersburg Philharmonia n.a. D.D. Shostakovich.

In 2023, for numerous achievements and a significant contribution to the development of musical art, the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra was officially recognized as an especially valuable cultural heritage object of the Krasnoyarsk Region.

The Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra is not only a virtuoso concert group, but also the initiator, organizer and enthusiastic participant of a variety of large-scale city, regional and international projects and festivals, such as "Live Music Lessons", "Musical Environment", and concert series' "Young Virtuosi of the Krasnoyarsk Region" and "Winners of the International Television Contest for Young Musicians 'The Nutcracker' with the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra". However, the main and most ambitious project of the orchestra has always been the International Festival of Chamber-Orchestral Music «Asia – Siberia – Europe», which was first created and organised by the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra in 2001. The Festival has become a constant arena for creative cooperation between Siberian and foreign musicians, a celebration of academic music, which the Krasnoyarsk folk are always looking forward to.

The combination of classical works and contemporary world premieres specially written for the Festival, as well as the constant introduction of rare traditional national instruments, attracts not only outstanding performing musicians, but also world-famous contemporary composers to cooperate. The Festival is unique in its multifaceted and ever-expanding genre palette – the performances could go from a duet to the joint sound of two orchestras on the same stage. Invited guests can appear before the audiences in different roles: as conductors, composers, soloists, chamber performers and teachers. A concert in which the Krasnoyarsk Chamber Orchestra, a constant participant and organiser of the Festival, performs a specially prepared work together with an invited orchestra is slowly becoming a new tradition for the Festival. At the same time, each participant retains the opportunity to present their performance skills and music of their country during solo concerts. The Festival usually takes place at the central concert venues of the city: the Small and Organ Halls of the Krasnoyarsk Regional Philharmonia, the Big and Small Halls of the Krasnoyarsk State Institute of Arts n.a. D. Hvorostovsky.

Since its inception, the Festival has presented Krasnoyarsk with world music stars from Russia, Italy, Spain, Germany, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, England, France, Austria, Greece, Portugal, Japan, China and Korea.​