BBC National Orchestra of Wales

For 90 years, BBC National Orchestra of Wales has played an integral part in the cultural landscape of Wales, occupying a distinctive role as both broadcast and national symphony orchestra. Part of BBC Wales and supported by the Arts Council of Wales, it performs a busy schedule of live concerts throughout Wales and the rest of the UK. The orchestra is an ambassador of Welsh music, championing contemporary composers and musicians, and works closely with Welsh composer-in-association Huw Watkins.

The orchestra performs annually at the BBC Proms and biennially at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, and its concerts can be heard regularly across the BBC: on Radio 3, Radio Wales and Radio Cymru. Building on its extensive work with special educational needs schools, BBC NOW performed the first-ever Relaxed Prom in 2017, which won Best Family Event at the 2018 Fantastic for Families Awards.

In December 2018 the Orchestra toured to China with Xian Zhang working with the British Council in China as part of their Inspiring Women in the Arts campaign. In 2015, as part of an extensive South America tour, the orchestra visited the Welsh colony in Patagonia. BBC NOW is based at BBC Hoddinott Hall in Cardiff Bay, where it continues its work as one of the UK’s foremost soundtrack orchestras.