Ningbo Symphony Orchestra (NBSO), founded at the end of 2015, is a public institution directly under Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television and Tourism, and an advanced collective of national culture and tourism system. The famous conductor, Professor Yu Feng, President of the Central Conservatory of Music, is specially engaged as its art director. Since its establishment, aiming at “being first-class at home and well-known abroad”, NBSO has boldly innovated its employment mechanism, created professional atmosphere, and attracted more than 100 outstanding performers graduated from the world famous conservatories of music to join.

Gather famous artists for art’s sake. In 2017, the Orchestra initiated its first music season, having cooperated with famous conductors Yu Feng, Li Xincao, Lyu Jia, Zhang Guoyong, Xu Zhong, Yang Yang and Lin Daye, internationally renowned conductors Leon Botstein, Ulrich Windfuhr and Petr Popelka, violinist Ning Feng, cellist Qin Liwei, famous pianists Yin Chengzong, Chen Sa and Zhang Haochen in succession to hold concerts intended for performing a series of works by Richard Strauss, Mahler, Beethoven, Wagner, Shostakovich, Brahms, et al. The original symphony works “A Gateway to the World”, “Ningbo Partita” and “Welcome to Ningbo” have appeared on the stage of the National Grand Theatre for many times, and the national opera “Deer’s Call”, co-created with Ningbo Performance & Arts Group has won the national “Best Works Award”.

Work hard to form the brand. The Orchestra has successively participated in the performance activities for the 70^th anniversary of the founding of the People’s Republic of China in Tian’anmen Square, the opening ceremony of the 15^th Asia Art Festival, the “Praising the New Era —Excellent Chinese Original Symphony Works Exhibition and Performance”, the opening ceremony of the China-CEEC Expo and other national cultural performances, went to Italy, Poland, Bulgaria and South Korea for performances, which have been well praised, and went to Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Shenzhen, Xi’an, Qingdao, Dalian, Harbin and other cities for show tour, which have been well received. Through extensive cultural exchange activities, the Orchestra has further demonstrated the charm and elegance of Ningbo's urban culture, and made positive contributions to spreading the voice and telling the story of Ningbo, thus promoting the remarkable promotion of the Orchestra’s popularity, influence and reputation.

Popularize art to benefit all. The summer masters’ open class themed on “Aesthetic Education Enlightens Wisdom” to popularize the elegant music has been publicized and reported by many mainstream media such as CCTV, Xinhua News Agency and People’s Daily Online, and has become a well-known aesthetic education brand in China; concerts are held every corner of the city, making music spread all over streets and lanes; music lectures are popular with the public, making elegant art a part of daily life; elegant art is also entering school campuses as a form of education, sowing the seeds of music and cultivating talents for this City of Music.

Hold international competitions to write a new chapter. NBSO held two sessions of Ningbo International Vocal Competition successfully in 2018 and 2023. In particular, the Ningbo International Vocal Competition 2023 attracted 417 contestants from 5 continents and 43 countries and regions to sign up, creating the highest record in the history in number of both contestants and countries. As the only vocal competition recognized by the World Federation of International Music Competitions in China, Ningbo International Vocal Competition has become a stage for top artists to show their talents.

NBSO is becoming a beautiful “golden business card” of Ningbo City with its brand-new idea of organizing the orchestra, rigorous artistic pursuit and fruitful artistic achievements!