New Zealand Symphony Orchestra

The New Zealand Symphony Orchestra is the country's premier professional orchestra. It was launched in October 1946, and administered by Radio New Zealand until 1988. It now functions as a government-owned Crown Entity. Current music director James Judd assumed the position in 1999, and has since brought the NZSO international exposure through appearances at the 2005 BBC Proms in London, the Amsterdam Concertgebouw, the 2005 World Expo in Aichi, Japan, the 2003 Asia International Performing Arts Festival in Osaka, and the 2000 Summer Sydney Olympic Arts Festival.

Name changes:
1946 - 1963: National Orchestra Of The New Zealand Broadcasting Service
1963 - 1988: New Zealand Broadcasting Corporation Symphony Orchestra
1989 - present: New Zealand Symphony Orchestra