The BBC Symphony Orchestra plays a central role at the heart of British musical life, acting as the flagship orchestra of the BBC Proms with a number of appearances each year including the First and Last Nights. Strongly committed to new music, it has given over one thousand premiers since it was founded in 1930.

All BBC Symphony Orchestra concerts are broadcast on BBC Radio 3 and a number are televised, giving the BBC Symphony Orchestra the highest broadcast profile of any UK orchestra.

Outreach work involves the orchestra in a number of adventurous projects working with schools and members of the local community. Recent projects have included a five-day festival of Gamelan music, Berio Fusion, in which secondary school pupils explored the possibilities for using technology in music-making and a BBC Proms Out and About concert at Hammersmith Town Hall.