What Symphony Orchestra Soundtrack does

The Orchestre symphonique Bande-Son, legally operated as the Fondation Orchestre symphonique Bande-Son, is a Swiss private nonprofit foundation headquartered in Crissier (Canton of Vaud) and dedicated exclusively to the live symphonic performance of film, television, and musical theatre scores. Founded in 1993 by Marc Demierre and directed since 2014 by composer Thierry Besançon, the ensemble draws from a core of approximately 100 professional musicians drawn from major French-speaking Swiss orchestras and advanced conservatory students, supplemented by large choirs (e.g., 170 choristers for the 2026 Queen Symphony) and guest soloists. The orchestra performs an annual themed concert season at prestigious Swiss venues, principally the Auditorium Stravinski in Montreux and the Victoria Hall in Geneva, with each concert framed by a master of ceremony who provides historical and cinematic context. Its core "technology" is the scholarly restoration and recreation of original film scores — performing works as originally conceived in form and orchestration, without cinematic projections — covering genres ranging from adventure, fantasy, science fiction, monster movies and Westerns to Golden Age Hollywood.

The organization monetizes its activities through three primary streams: (1) concert ticket sales routed via third-party event platforms (saisonculturelle.ch, Infomaniak Events); (2) direct-to-consumer sales of physical CDs and USB+CD recordings through its own e-commerce shop at bande-son.ch, with a back catalog priced between 5 CHF and 60 CHF per unit including limited editions (e.g., the 100-copy Elmer Bernstein program at 40 CHF) and a 4-CD box set at 60 CHF; and (3) institutional sponsorship and public grants from the Canton of Vaud, Commune of Crissier, Loterie Romande, plus private sponsors (Casino Barrière Montreux, Migros Culture, BCV Foundation, Fondation Carris) and media partners (24 Heures, La Tribune de Genève, MLE Media). Marketing relies on organic social media (Facebook, Instagram), a newsletter, and earned media rather than paid acquisition. Its customer base is a long tail of individual concert-goers in French-speaking Switzerland and film-score collectors, with no disclosed enterprise or B2B contracts.

Name

Symphony Orchestra Soundtrack

Legal name

Fondation Orchestre symphonique Bande-Son

Website

https://bande-son.ch

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Symphony Orchestra Soundtrack (Fondation Orchestre symphonique Bande-Son) is a Swiss nonprofit foundation, founded 1993, that performs live symphonic concerts of film, television, and musical theatre music at major Swiss venues for general audiences and film-score collectors.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Live Symphony Concert Performances

NAICS

Musical Groups and Artists (711130)

SIC

Phonograph Records & Prerecorded Audio Tapes & Disks (3652)

akta.pro primary industry

Arranging & Orchestration (MPAIAHAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Backline & Musical Instrument Rental (MPAGAKAJ), Custom Music & Original Score/Composition (MPAIALAD)

Keywords

• Live orchestral concerts
• Film music performances
• Symphonic music recordings
• Concert event production
• Orchestral performance services

Headquarters

HQ city

Crissier

HQ country

Switzerland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Concert Ticket Sales: Revenue from selling tickets to live symphonic concert performances held at prestigious Swiss venues (Auditorium Stravinski Montreux, Victoria Hall Geneva). Two 2026 Queen Symphony performances are scheduled.
2. CD and Recording Sales: Direct sales of physical CDs and USB + CD recordings through the orchestra's online shop. Recordings include concert programs such as The Fantastic Worlds of Elmer Bernstein (limited 100-copy edition, 165 minutes), Monster Movies, Contes & Légendes, Space Symphony, Thriller Jazz, Hollywood Sounds!, and a full 4-CD box set (Intégrale). Prices range from 5 CHF to 60 CHF per unit.
3. Institutional Sponsorship and Public Grants: The orchestra receives support from institutional sponsors including the Canton of Vaud, Commune of Crissier, Loterie Romande, and private sponsors (Casino Barrière Montreux, Migros Culture, Banque Cantonale Vaudoise, and others), as well as media partners.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Orchestre symphonique Bande-Son is a Swiss Romandie symphony orchestra of approximately 100 musicians that performs live symphonic concerts dedicated exclusively to film music, television scores, and musical theatre repertoire, presented with an MC-led educational format at major Swiss venues such as Auditorium Stravinski (Montreux) and Victoria Hall (Geneva). In addition to ticketed concert events, the orchestra produces and sells physical recordings (CDs and USB + CD editions) of its themed concert seasons, with pricing ranging from 5 CHF to 60 CHF per unit.

Product overview

The Orchestre Symphonique Bande-Son is a Swiss Romandy symphony orchestra dedicated exclusively to performing film music, television scores, and musical theater compositions. Founded in 1993 and directed by Thierry Besançon since 2014, the orchestra offers annual concert seasons with eclectic themes ranging from adventure films, fantasy, science fiction, monster movies, Westerns, and Hollywood Golden Age scores. The orchestra also produces and sells recorded music products including CDs and USB recordings featuring their concert performances and compositions by renowned film composers such as Elmer Bernstein, John Williams, and Jerry Goldsmith. Products include themed albums like The Fantastic Worlds of Elmer Bernstein, Monster Movies, Space Symphony, Contes & Légendes, Thriller Jazz, Hollywood Sounds!, and the comprehensive L'intégrale box set.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Queen Symphony Concert (Season 2026) Live symphonic concert featuring Tolga Kashif's Queen Symphony inspired by legendary Queen songs such as Bohemian Rhapsody, We Will Rock You, The Show Must Go On, We Are The Champions, and Mama, performed by the full orchestra with 170 choristers and prestigious soloists under the direction of Thierry Besançon. Open to individual concert-goers via ticketed admission.
• The Fantastic Worlds of Elmer Bernstein (USB + CD Recording) Physical USB and CD recording featuring the orchestra's film music tribute to Elmer Bernstein, with themes from Ghostbusters, The Black Cauldron, An American Werewolf in London, Wild Wild West, Saturn 3, and Heavy Metal. Limited to 100 copies, it includes world premiere bonus tracks such as Concertino for Ondes Martenot. Targeted at film score collectors and enthusiasts.
• Monster Movies (USB + CD Recording) Physical USB and CD recording of the orchestra's 2022 themed season exploring monster film scores including Jaws, Godzilla, and Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, with themes of scientific folly, nuclear fear, and cloning. Targeted at film score collectors.
• Contes & Légendes (CD Recording) Physical CD recording of the 2019 fantasy film music season, featuring works by James Horner, Howard Shore, Danny Elfman, and Jerry Goldsmith representing musical journeys into parallel fantasy worlds. Targeted at film score collectors.
• Space Symphony (CD Recording) Physical CD recording of the 2018 science fiction season marking the orchestra's 25th anniversary, featuring scores from Star Wars, Alien, The Fifth Element, and 2001: A Space Odyssey. Targeted at film score collectors and sci-fi enthusiasts.
• Thriller Jazz (CD Recording) Physical CD recording of the 2017 season dedicated to classic crime films and television series theme songs, performed with special guest soloists Stefano Saccon, Vinz Vonlanthen, Jean-Pierre Schaller, and Cyril Regamey. Targeted at film and TV music enthusiasts.
• Hollywood Sounds! (CD Recording, Best of 2014-2016) Physical CD best-of compilation of the 2014-2016 concert seasons, featuring the orchestra with the Université de Lausanne Choir and mezzo-soprano Carine Séchaye performing iconic American film scores including Titanic, Star Wars Episode I, Indiana Jones, and Avatar. Targeted at film score collectors.
• L'Intégrale de Bande-Son (4-CD Box Set) Complete 4-CD box set compilation containing the orchestra's first four themed concert programs (Contes & Légendes, Space Symphony, Thriller Jazz, Hollywood Sounds), providing a comprehensive retrospective of the ensemble's film music repertoire. Targeted at collectors seeking a complete anthology.

Quantifiable outcome

• 170 choristers plus soloists perform alongside a 100-musician orchestra in major concert events
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Commune of CrissiercoreOthersThe Commune of Crissier provides the orchestra with essential infrastructure and facilities, including the official seat of the foundation. This is the primary operational anchor for the orchestra in French-speaking Switzerland.
• Casino Barrière MontreuxminorOthersListed as a sponsor of the orchestra, contributing to the financing of concert productions and events.
• Loterie RomandecoreOthersMajor institutional supporter providing lottery-funded cultural grants to the orchestra, a key source of operational and programmatic funding.
• Canton of VaudcoreOthersThe Canton of Vaud provides government-level financial support to the orchestra as part of its cultural funding program.
• 24 HeuresminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss French-language daily newspaper listed as a media partner, providing press coverage and promotional visibility for the orchestra's events.
• La Tribune de GenèveminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSwiss French-language daily newspaper listed as a media partner, providing press coverage and promotional visibility for the orchestra's events.
• Migros CultureminorOthersMigros Culture percentage program supporter of the orchestra, contributing to cultural sponsorship funding.
• Banque Cantonale Vaudoise (BCV Foundation)minorOthersListed as a sponsor, the BCV Foundation contributes to the financial sponsorship of the orchestra.
• MLE MediaminorGTM or Marketing PartnerListed as a sponsor and media partner providing media production or promotional support.
• MegaphoneminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerListed as a technical partner, likely providing audio/production technical services for concerts.
• Audio NDXminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerListed as a technical partner, providing audio engineering or technical support services for concert productions.
• Peter BernsteincoreOthersThe renowned composer Peter Bernstein is the official godfather (parrain) of the orchestra. Following a 2017 visit where he re-orchestrated a work of his father Elmer Bernstein for the orchestra and conducted them at Victoria Hall, a friendship developed leading to the official patronage. His involvement gave rise to the 2024 'The Fantastic Worlds of Elmer Bernstein' project, marking qualitative recognition of the orchestra and its artistic director.
• Fondation CarrisminorOthersListed as a sponsor contributing to the orchestra's financial support.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Regional players

• Orchestre de la Suisse Romande: Major Geneva-based Swiss Romandie orchestra. Comparable as a regional symphonic peer in the same geographic market; some audience overlap with Bande-Son's Geneva activities and Besançon's conductor network.
• Sinfonietta de Lausanne: Lausanne-based Swiss chamber orchestra where Thierry Besançon previously served as conductor. Comparable regional symphonic peer in French-speaking Switzerland, with potential bench overlap and audience adjacency.
• Tonhalle-Orchester Zürich: Zürich-based leading Swiss symphony orchestra. Comparable as a higher-tier Swiss symphonic operator that occasionally programs film-music repertoire, putting it in indirect competition for Swiss cultural sponsors and audiences.

Direct peers

• CineConcerts: US-based producer of live film-music concert experiences (e.g., Star Wars in Concert, Jurassic World in Concert). Directly competitive in the film-music live concert space that Bande-Son occupies, though with touring franchise scale.
• Metropole Orkest: Dutch hybrid symphony/jazz/pop orchestra specializing in cross-genre repertoire including film, game, and television music. Comparable niche strategy to Bande-Son in extending orchestral performance beyond classical core into soundtrack and popular music territory.
• Hollywood Bowl Orchestra: Los Angeles-based orchestra historically dedicated to film-music performance and recordings. Closest international analogue to Bande-Son in pure film-music symphonic programming and recorded output, although anchored in a much larger US market.
• City of Prague Philharmonic Orchestra: Czech-based orchestra widely recognized for film-score recording sessions and film-music concert programs. Highly comparable to Bande-Son in its dedicated film-music specialization and recorded-catalog focus, though at significantly larger scale.

Broad incumbents

• London Symphony Orchestra: One of the world's most recorded orchestras for film soundtracks (Star Wars, Harry Potter, etc.). Relevant comparator for Bande-Son's recorded-catalog model and prestige venue positioning, though with vastly greater resources.
• Royal Philharmonic Orchestra: Major UK orchestra that runs dedicated film-music concert series and tour productions. Comparable as a large incumbent entering the film-music live space that Bande-Son specializes in, with broader classical programming.
• Boston Pops Orchestra: American pops orchestra with a long tradition of film-score performances and family/cinema programming. Comparable to Bande-Son in accessible film-music repertoire but operates at far larger scale and brand reach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/orchestre.bande.son
• Instagraminstagram.com/bande_son
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/bande-son

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Symphony Orchestra Soundtrack