The original New London Orchestra was formed in 1941 by conductor Alec Sherman and was used by Dame Myra Hess to play at her historic series of wartime National Gallery concerts.

[1] The New London Orchestra was revived in 1988 as a body of players regularly assembled by Ronald Corp to accompany concerts given by Highgate Choral Society.

[9] On 23 November 1991 the Orchestra presented the London première of the Swiss composer, Frank Martin's Requiem at the Royal Festival Hall as part of 'Swiss Fest 700'.

[10] 'A Musical Celebration of the Bloomsbury Group' featured works ranging from John Blow, Handel, Ethyl Smyth and Elgar to Britten, Bridge and Debussy (22 June 2004).

Works by the following British composers have also been programmed: Holbrooke, Finzi, Cyril Rootham, Rawsthorne, Dyson, Howard Blake and Richard Blackford.

In keeping with the NLO ethos, lesser-known works by well-known composers have been played, for example Holst's A Fugal Overture, Vaughan Williams' The Running Set and Janáček's Adagio.

In the field of education, the Orchestra has devised projects which use music as a tool to enhance learning in the key curriculum subjects of maths, literacy and science.

[18] These fall into three categories: A disc released in November 2009 comprises works for string orchestra by Grażyna Bacewicz, giving exposure to this composer little known outside of Poland.

[24] The New London Orchestra's curriculum-based education projects have sought to enhance children's learning in maths, literacy and science through music-based activities.

[26] Between 2011 and 2013 the JPMorgan Chase Foundation provided funding for the NLO's three-year 'Literacy Through Music' education project which took place at primary schools in Newham.

These included primary and secondary schools, local sports teams, 'Look Ahead Housing and Care' residents and theatre groups, as well as the 'Ascension Eagles' Cheerleaders and 'East London Dance'.