OUR STORY

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is your national orchestra.

One of the world’s oldest national symphony orchestras, we have charmed audiences with memorable concerts and recordings since 1947.

Today, the NZSO is recognised as an outstanding orchestra of international stature and our reputation for artistic excellence attracts many of the world’s leading conductors and soloists each year. In 2016 the NZSO was nominated for Best Orchestral Performance at the prestigious Grammy Awards.

In our touring programmes each year the NZSO can perform more than 100 concerts in more than 30 different communities across New Zealand to audiences in excess of 100,000 people. Many more enjoy the Orchestra’s performances through RNZ Concert broadcasts, film soundtracks and CD recordings. 

We also nurture New Zealand’s best young musical talent through our Learning & Connecting programmes and the NZSO National Youth Orchestra.