[1] Based in New York City, with an office in Washington, DC, the League leads, serves, and advocates for orchestras and the orchestral art form.

[3][4] One of its first actions was to lobby successfully, under the leadership of its executive secretary Helen M. Thompson, for the repeal of a federal tax on symphony concert tickets.

[10] It provides information regarding El Sistema[11] and Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation[12] grants and the development of American youth orchestras.

Within this writing, Rosen and Noonan present the current picture of music education in the United States, where although the arts are considered a core subject by federal law, they do not receive this treatment in American schools.

[13] Announced in 2016, the League's Futures Fund is underwritten by the Ann and Gordon Getty Foundation to advance a wide variety of innovative orchestral engagement initiatives.

[30] In April 2020 the League announced that Simon Woods, former president of the Seattle Symphony and chief executive of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, will take the reins in September.