The full orchestra was formally established in 1949, at a size of 40 musicians, with Hein Jordans as its first chief conductor.
Other chief conductors have included Lucas Vis (1979-1983), André Vandernoot, and Arpad Joó.
In 1994, the orchestra dismissed Joó and subsequently named Marc Soustrot its next chief conductor.
[1] However, controversy arose when the orchestra had appointed Jaap van Zweden as principal guest conductor, to the point where Soustrot had threatened not to take the chief conductorship because he did not feel sufficiently consulted on the van Zweden appointment.
[3] The orchestra participated as accompanying ensemble in the Internationaal Vocalisten Concours, concerts of the Stichting Stabat Mater in Oirschot, "Carnaval Concerts", the Festival Cult & Tumult in Veldhoven and the "Festival Traces" in Tilburg.