The orchestra was founded in 1913 as a small, badly paid, part time group. They were conducted by Paul Blitz until 1916 and then by Paul Berge until they were disbanded in 1918.
It reformed in 1930 and gave its first full season of concerts the following year conducted by Uriel Nespoli. He was succeeded by Frank St. Leger, but it was during the tenure of Ernst Hoffmann, conductor from 1935 to 1947, that the ensemble became fully professional.
Efrem Kurtz was conductor from 1948 to 1954, and there was then a brief period with Ferenc Fricsay as conductor before Leopold Stokowski took over in 1955. He was succeeded by John Barbirolli (1961-67), who instituted the orchestra's touring schedule.
Later conductors have been André Previn (1967-69), Lawrence Foster (1970-79), Sergiu Comissiona (1980-88) and Christoph Eschenbach (1988-99). Hans Graf was appointed music director in 2000.