Persimfans was formed during the early years of the Soviet Union. Because there was no conductor, major decisions were undertaken by committees and all members of the orchestra had to be familiar with the entire score. The quality of playing amazed many contemporaries who believed there must be a conductor hidden away behind the stage. Persimfans also inspired the formation of other conductorless orchestras throughout the Soviet Union and the West in the 1920s, but most only lasted for a few years.

In 2008, a contemporary revival of Persimfans was created by Konstantin Dudalov-Kashuro, Peter Aidu and Gregory Krotenko under the aegis of the Moscow School of Dramatic Art's Music Laboratory. In 2014 Persimfans was awarded the Sergei Kuryokhin Contemporary Art Award.^[1]

• History of the greatest conductorless orchestra
• Conductorless Orchestra 'Persimfans' Sees Contemporary Revival