Musical and Artistic Director - Yanna Talpis who is also the conductor, was trained in the classic Russian tradition of fine music. She was  born in Moscow and was considered a child prodigy for the piano at the age of five. At 14, she was amongst a handful of children - just 21 - to be selected from across Russia for a scholarship at the Gnessin College ( Russian Academy of Music) in Moscow. Yanna completed her Masters in Orchestral Conducting at The University of Melbourne, Faculty of Music.

‘‘The idea of starting the Gold Coast Symphony Orchestra began earlier last year, when I realised that there was musical talent and culture  on the Gold Coast. Yet there was no professional Symphony Orchestra that the Gold Coast could call its own even though the Gold Coast was Australia's 6^th largest city.

Together with a Melbourne doctor, Josef Goldbaum, Yanna decided to establish a professional  Gold Coast Orchestra, using local talent and giving local musicians the chance to perform in their home city.

‘‘There is such a talent drain out of the Gold Coast. Classically Trained musicians and students usually have to leave the area and go interstate and overseas if they want jobs. Alternately they must obtain other day jobs.

With Dr Goldbaum as CEO, Yanna registered the name Gold Coast Symphony Orchestra and in July 2007 began holding auditions .Over 40 musicians were selected to perform in the first concert.  

The first concert' "the Christmas Concert" was a great success and signified the ‘birth of the orchestra'. Mayor Cr. Ron Clarke addressed the audience welcoming the Orchestra to the Coast.

The appreciative audience was very impressed with the standard of the Orchestra and the talent of its conductor. Many thought the concert was of international standard; and one of the best concerts held on the Gold Coast.

The second concert , The Valentines - "Love and Passion" brought together over 50 musicians and one of the largest percussion sections ever assembled in Queensland. The quality of sound was outstanding; the performance again of world class standard.

Both concerts were enjoyed not only by the audience but also by the musicians themselves. Recordings of both concerts will be available in due course.  

The short-term plan is to hold several concerts a year and in the long term to become a fully professional orchestra, with a strong ‘Friends of the Orchestra and community outreach activities.

Forming a fresh orchestra by drawing disparate talents together  and producing  2 successful  concerts in the space of six months was  a logistical nightmare ; and a lot of hard work.

‘‘We are not going to compromise on quality. It is the conductor's job to make sure the chemistry between players and audiences is just right; we want the Gold Coast Symphony Orchestra to make this city sing.''