This orchestra and its predecessors[2] soon established a reputation both nationally and internationally, with concerts and tours throughout South Africa,[3] the UK,[4] Taiwan, the Canary Islands and the United States.

The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra's outreach and educational programs include the Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Orchestra[8] (mentored by members of the professional orchestra); Cape Town Philharmonic Youth Wind Ensemble;[8] and the grassroots training project, Masidlale[8] (meaning "let us play" in Xhosa), where disadvantaged township children are taught theory and performance skills.

International and local musicians/conductors who performed/conducted the orchestra as referred to in the book are, among others, Jascha Heifetz,[9] Noël Coward,[10] Sir Thomas Beecham,[11] Albert Coates,[12][13] Igor Stravinsky,[14] Vladimir Ashkenazy,[15] and Pretty Yende.

Significant recordings released by the Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra include Mahler and Wagner songs with mezzo-soprano Hanneli Rupert[16] (Bernhard Gueller,[17] conductor); the Schnittke oratorio Nagasaki, and Symphonies No.

Marking his 50th birthday, the South African pianist, François du Toit[19][failed verification] performed all Beethoven piano concerti in 2016 (Victor Yampolsky, conductor).