The FAO Philharmonic Choir, founded in 1964 by a group of staff members bound together by a passion for music, is composed entirely of amateur singers, mostly FAO staff. The Choir owes its continued existence to the perseverance, dedication and contribution in terms of time and effort of each of its members, and is financed entirely by the singers' subscriptions. The Choir has performed in FAO on official occasions such as the opening of the Conference and World Food Day, and in churches within Rome, Lazio and surrounding regions during national and international musical events, providing singing of acknowledged high standards. In 1992 the Choir presented a programme of choral-symphonic works from the classical period for choir, organ and orchestra on the occasion of the International Conference on Nutrition held in Rome. The series of remarkable successes achieved through the Choir's continued response to a challenging programme of activity is at once the tribute and the reward for the professional approach, the real dedication and the strict musical sense of all the members of the Choir. These qualities have gained the Choir, which is in the literal sense of the word an "amateur" body, wide recognition in Roman musical circles. The choir rehearses weekly after working hours from September to June and twice weekly when preparing concerts.