Named after composer Leoš Janáček, the orchestra performs its concerts at the City of Ostrava Cultural Centre.
In the 1990s, the orchestra developed a new emphasis on performance of contemporary music, including renditions of compositions by composers such as Earle Brown, John Cage, Maria de Alvear, Morton Feldman, Petr Kotik, Alvin Lucier, Pauline Oliveros, Somei Satoh, Martin Smolka, Karlheinz Stockhausen, Toru Takemitsu, Edgard Varese, and Christian Wolff.
In April 2020, the orchestra announced the appointment of Sinaisky as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2020-2021 season.
Sinaisky concluded his tenure as chief conductor of the orchestra at the close of the 2023-2024 season.
[2] In May 2024, the orchestra announced the appointment of Daniel Raiskin as its next chief conductor, effective with the 2026-2027 season.