In collaboration with fellow musicians Otto Fessel, Rudolf Dietz Mann and Folmer Jensen, the orchestra was founded in 1925, with 11 players in the ensemble and conductor Launy Grøndahl having a leadership role, though without a formal title.

After going into exile from Germany in the 1930s, Fritz Busch worked extensively as a major conductor of the orchestra in parallel with Malko, though again with no formal title.

[3] Past principal guest conductors of the DRSO, besides Dausgaard, have included Yuri Temirkanov, Michael Schønwandt, and Dmitri Kitaenko.

[4] In February 2011, the DNSO announced the appointment Rafael Frühbeck de Burgos as principal conductor, effective with the 2012–2013 season, with an initial contract of three years through 2015.

[5] On 4 June 2014, Frühbeck de Burgos resigned as chief conductor of the orchestra, with immediate effect, in parallel with his retirement from conducting, because of health problems.

[11] The orchestra has recorded commercially for such labels as DaCapo and Chandos, including music of Danish composers such as August Enna,[12] Niels Gade,[13] Rued Langgaard,[14] and Per Nørgård.