In 1927 the VSOC, led by one of its members, Viktor Maiwald, created its non-operatic branch, the Concert Association of the Vienna State Opera Chorus. In the ensuing years, a small schedule of concerts was arranged for the ensemble. Also, from 1927, the VSOC members began electing their own concert director. That individual is often the music director of the Vienna State Opera, as with Seiji Ozawa (2002-2010), who also serves as conductor of the Vienna State Opera Orchestra. Bruno Walter (1936-1938), Karl Böhm (1954-1981), and Claudio Abbado (1987-2002) have been other illustrious past conductors of the VSOC.In 1956 newly appointed music director of the Vienna State Opera, Herbert von Karajan, changed the German-language performance policy of the Vienna State Opera, declaring that all operas must thenceforth be sung in their original language. The VSOC, with much to relearn, smoothly made the abrupt transition. The VSOC continues to maintain its extremely busy schedule: at the 2008 Salzburg Festival the VSOC sang in six operas and four concert works, and its 2009 concert schedule included appearances in May in Taiwan and in November in South Korea.