The Cascais & Oeiras Chamber Orchestra is an ensemble funded by the Cascais and Oeiras Municipalities, and by the Portuguese Ministry of Culture through Direção Geral das Artes, a governmental entity for the management and promotion of Culture and Art. OCCO is considered today as one of the best ensembles of its kind in Portugal, and soon took an essential role in the cultural life within Oeiras and Cascais. The orchestra has a season of more than 60 concerts per year, also performing at many venues throughout Portugal, and presenting various concerts abroad. OCCO has a core of 20 strings and a fixed group of wind musicians, which grants OCCO to form a full orchestra whenever required. Within its extensive and comprehensive repertoire, OCCO includes works of composers from various eras and styles, always promoting Portuguese composers. But it is also part of OCCO's agenda to promote young composers, frequently performing pieces less known to the audience, some of which are premiered in Portugal. OCCO was founded by Maestro Nikolay Lalov, who is its current Conductor and Artistic Director.