The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra (NZSO) is New Zealand’s national orchestra. Founded in 1946, it is one of the world’s oldest national symphony orchestras. Today, the NZSO is recognised as an outstanding orchestra of international stature with a reputation for artistic excellence that attracts many of the world’s leading conductors and soloists.
Each year the NZSO performs more than 100 concerts in more than 30 different communities across New Zealand, including in schools, marae, hospitals, parks, nursing homes and even on railway platforms, to audiences in excess of 100,000 people. In addition, the orchestra’s performances can be heard on Radio New Zealand concert broadcasts, film soundtracks and commercial recordings.
It has a long history on performing on film soundtracks, including Peter Jackson’s The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies. In 2016, the NZSO was nominated for Best Orchestral Performance at the prestigious GRAMMY Awards. Hamish McKeich has served as the Orchestra’s principal conductor in residence since 2020.
Photo: Stephen A'Court
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