The East Slovakian town of Kosice boasts a long and distinguished musical tradition, as part of province that once provided Vienna with musicians. The State Philharmonic Orchestra is of relatively recent origin and was established in 1968 under the conductor Bystrik Rezucha. Subsequent principal conductors have included Stanislav Macura and Ladislav Slovák, the latter being succeeded in 1985 by his pupil Richard Zimmer. The orchestra has toured widely in Eastern and Western Europe.