Throughout its history, the Orchestra has played an important part in Scotland’s musical life, including performing at the opening ceremony of the Scottish Parliament building in 2004.

[1] Its music centre and rehearsal studios are directly connected to the Glasgow Royal Concert Hall.

Gibson pioneered overseas tours by the Orchestra, the SNO Junior Chorus and by Scottish Opera.

During Gibson's tenure, beginning in 1979, the RSNO's base was at Henry Wood Hall in Glasgow and this space was also used as its recording venue.

Previously, also during Gibson's tenure, the RNSO was based at St Andrew's Hall, also in Glasgow; this building was destroyed in a fire on 26 October 1962.

[3] Gibson was particularly noted for his interpretations of Scandinavian composers, notably Jean Sibelius and Carl Nielsen.

His successor, Neeme Järvi, continued this tradition, and also led the orchestra through its first complete Gustav Mahler cycle.

Bryden Thomson, the orchestra's second Scottish principal conductor, maintained the Nordic link with a cycle of Nielsen symphonies.

In January 2011, the RSNO announced the appointment of Peter Oundjian as its next music director, as of the 2012–2013 season, with an initial contract of 4 years.

The RSNO Chorus evolved from a choir formed in 1843 to sing the first full performance of Handel's Messiah in Scotland, in April 1844.