Its musicians are graduated from prestigious Music Academies in Moscow, St. Petersburg, the New York Julliard School of Music, “Prof. Pancho Vladiguerov” Sofia National Music Academy.

The profound and extensive development of the orchestra reaching the standards of outstanding professional orchestras started under the great Bulgarian conductor Vassil Stefanov (1913-1991), who took up his duties as a conductor in 1954, and continued working with it for over 30 years. During that time the Symphony Orchestra of BNR turned into a leading cultural institution in Bulgaria.

With contributions of their own to the development and artistic growth of the Orchestra were conductors Vassil Kazandjiev, Alexander Vladigerov (1933-1993), Milen Nachev and Rossen Milanov.
In the end of 2008 the outstanding Bulgarian conductor and composer Emil Tabakov has been appointed its principal conductor.
 The Symphony Orchestra of BNR has extensively toured both in Bulgaria and abroad. The Orchestra has invariably taken part in major international music festivals in Bulgaria: “March Music Days” in Rousse and “Varna Summer”.

The Orchestra has undertaken concert tours in South Korea, France, Spain, Germany, participated in the cultural program of Mondial ’98, (France), had an opening concert at the “Europalia” Festival in Brussels, a concert beneath the Acropolis within the framework of the cultural Olympiad in Athens, participation in “Cypria” – the most outstanding cultural festival in Cyprus.

In January 2008 the Radio Symphony Orchestra had an exceptionally successful concert tour with Rosen Milanov and the Bulgarian opera prima Veselina Katsarova in some of the famous concert halls in Europe – Munich, Dortmund, (Germany), Valladolid, (Spain), and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, (the Netherlands).

Recording music is among the major activities of the Orchestra. Along with making recordings for the Sound Archives of BNR it is also recording for foreign labels like Phonic, (Belgium), Sound Products, (the Netherlands), Harmonia Mundi, (France), BMG Ariola, (Italy), Pyramid Record, (the USA) and for all Bulgarian music recording labels. The Symphony Orchestra of BNR is actively involved in the international exchanges of the BNR with studio recordings and concerts, broadcast live via the European Broadcasting Union targeting millions of European listeners.
In 2001 the SO of BNR won the Crystal Lyre Award of the Union of Bulgarian Musicians and Dancers for major achievements in music. For the second time the Radio Orchestra with its chief conductor Emil Tabakov received the same award in November 2010 for the concert performance of Symphony No.10 by Dmitry Shostakovich.
In 2005 the Orchestra won  the important Sirak Skitnik Prize of BNR.
Bulgarian National Radio Symphony Orchestra

The Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio is one of the leading orchestras not only in Bulgaria, but also on the Balkans. The recordings constitute an essential element of the Orchestra’s activity.
The Radio Music Library has a vast collection of recordings of the Symphony Orchestra with the best Bulgarian soloists and world-famous conductors and soloists.
Special credit for the professional and artistic growth of the Symphony Orchestra of the Bulgarian National Radio is given to the conductors Vasil Stefanov, Alexander Vladigerov, Vasil Kazandjiev, Milen Nachev,Rosen Milanov. From November 2008 the Orchestra has been led by the famous Bulgarian conductor maestro Emil Tabakov who came back to Bulgaria. The Orchestra has had successful concert tours in South Korea, France, Spain, Germany, Italy. Of special interest are its participations in Europalia in Brussels (2002), Music festival, supported the Olympic games in Athens (2004), European tour with Vesselina Kasarova as a soloist in Germany, Spain and Netherlands (2008), including concerts in Herculessaal in Munich and Concertgebouw in Amsterdam.
One of the most important activities of the orchestra is recording. Music Fund radio has a vast collection of records Orchestra with the best Bulgarian soloists, with world famous conductors and soloists. Special merits for professional and artistic growth CO BNR have conductor Vassil Stefanov Alexander of Music, Vasil Kazandjiev Milen Nachev Rossen Milanov.
In addition to the orchestra of BNR record and foreign companies, PHONIC (Belgium), SOUND PRODUCTS (Netherlands), HARMONIA MUNDI (France), BMG ARIOLA (Italy), PYRAMID RECORD (USA) and all Bulgarian labels. CO BNR actively participate in the international exchange of Radio with studio recordings and concerts broadcast live via the European Broadcasting Union and for millions of European TV audiences.
 In the year of 2001 the Orchestra received the prestigious award Crystal Lyre for high achievements in musical and dance art.
For the second time CO of BNR Crystal Lyre in November 2010 concert performance of Symphony № 10 by Dmitri Shostakovich with chief conductor Emil Tabakov. In 2005 the band was awarded the BNR "Sirak Skitnik."