The Ljubljana International Orchestra, which held concerts in Ljubljana, Venice and London between 23 and 25 November 2013, promotes Ljubljana as a cosmopolitan city, a city of young and creative people and a city of opportunities.

The Ljubljana International Orchestra (LIO) is the new name of the Branimir Slokar Academy symphonic orchestra. Working with distinguished soloists and conductors contributes to the orchestra's and the city's international recognition and enriches the cultural activities offered to tourists visiting Ljubljana. In future, the orchestra and the Branimir Slokar Academy will continue their work under the partnership of the City of Ljubljana, Kino Šiška Centre for Urban Culture and the Delavnica Association.

After having successfully performed in Slovenia, Italy, Austria, Croatia, Serbia, United Kingdom and Spain, the Ljubljana International Orchestra is increasingly gaining recognition among young musicians and professional world leading artists. The Branimir Slokar Academy supports its long-term development in order to create an international orchestra of outstanding young musicians and providing them with the invaluable experience of playing in a symphonic orchestra as well as working with distinguished professors, conductors and soloists. The orchestra keeps a database of musicians selected through auditions and invites them to perform, based on the special characteristics of each individual programme. Musicians, who come from around 30 countries, which simultaneously means different cultures and social backgrounds, strive to deliver the highest possible performance. Another objective is to provide talented individuals with the most appropriate music education, aiming for the highest standard in music. The orchestra supports a young generation of musicians and focuses on encouraging and enabling international mobility as well as using the power of music to encourage international dialogue.

The orchestra's repertoire includes symphonic works of the Viennese classical and romantic period as well as modern works of the 20th century. Sincere enthusiasm, youthful energy and reckless courage are essential in reaching towards the great masterpieces of symphonic repertoire that is studied yearly during several working phases. Within the framework of the Branimir Slokar Academy, the orchestra also performs as a residential orchestra for a master course for young concertmasters, conductors and timpanists.

The two composers with key responsibilities for the development of the orchestra are Klaus Arp (Germany) and Živa Ploj Peršuh (Slovenia).