For 90 years BBC NOW has played an integral part in the cultural landscape of Wales, occupying a distinctive role as both broadcast and national symphony orchestra.

It performs a busy schedule of live concerts throughout Wales and the rest of the UK, led by its artistic team: Principal Guest Conductor Xian Zhang, Conductor Laureate Tadaaki Otaka and Composer-in-Association Huw Watkins.

Part of BBC Wales and supported by the Arts Council of Wales, the Orchestra is an ambassador of Welsh music, championing contemporary composers and musicians.

Highlights of the 2018–19 season include the first complete performance of Stanford’s Mass Via Victrix (1914–1918), Britten’s War Requiem with Mark Wigglesworth and Berlioz’s L’enfance du Christ with Sir Andrew Davis, as well as premieres of pieces by Paul Mealor and Jonathan Dove.

The Orchestra’s performances can be heard regularly across the BBC, on Radio 3, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru.

BBC NOW performs biennially at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and annually at the BBC Proms.

Building on its extensive work with special educational needs schools, BBC NOW performed the first ever Relaxed Prom in 2017, which won the Best Family Event at the 2018 Fantastic for Families Awards.

In December this year the Orchestra tours to China with Xian Zhang working with the British Council in China as part of their Inspiring Women in the Arts campaign.

As part of its extensive South America tour in 2015 the orchestra visited the Welsh colony in Patagonia where musicians worked in schools and with the community.

The Orchestra’s home is at BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff Bay, where BBC NOW continues its work as one of the UK’s foremost soundtrack orchestras.