The I, CULTURE Orchestra follows the example of such renowned ensembles as the European Union Youth Orchestra and the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra. Its members include young people from Poland, Ukraine, Belarus as well as other European countries to the east of the European Union, among them Moldavia, Azerbaijan, Armenia and Georgia. In the autumn of 2011 the I, CULTURE Orchestra will tour the most prestigious concert halls in Europe as a youth ambassador of the Eastern Partnership.

Poland's location at the heart of Europe has endowed this nation with a long history of connecting Europe to the east and west. In commemorating the Polish Presidency of the EU Council, it should be emphasised that both geographical regions have had a strong influence on European cultural identity. Moreover, western societies ought to be reminded of the cultural richness and long-standing tradition of European countries from beyond the eastern boundaries of the Schengen Area. The project aims to bring on permanent change in the approach towards orchestra education in the participating countries and hopefully leave a strong impression on the musical map of Europe for future generations.

Over the latter half of 2011 young and talented musicians from Eastern Europe had the opportunity to work under the direction of some of the most eminent teachers from leading orchestras in Western Europe, such as the London Symphony Orchestra, Opera de Lyon and the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. Auditions took place in Azerbaijan, Georgia and Moldova between February 18-25 and mid-March of this year. Out of the 700 people who auditioned, only 100 were successful, all under 25 years of age. The orchestra embarked on a tour of the best concert halls of Europe, performing under the baton of star conductor Sir Neville Marriner. 

This merging of musical talent from Eastern Europe with experienced musicians from Western Europe was a historical milestone, widely commented by the international press as an ambitious endeavour with both cultural and political implications. The aim is to achieve the highest artistic level possible, comparable to the best European orchestras of this type. 

Honorary Patronage by the President of the Republic of Poland Bronisław Komorowski