It was established in 1982 and is led by General Manager Chen Chuansong.
Since 1987, Shenzhen Symphony Orchestra has annually toured China, having visited Taiwan, Hong Kong and Macau several times.
The Orchestra has welcomed guest conductors from China and abroad throughout its history, including Li Delun, Han Zhongjie, Zheng Xiaoying, Bian Zushan, Huang Xiaotong, Chen Xieyang, Zhang Guoyong, Chen Zuohuang and Shao En.
Many world-known figures have been guest conductors of the Orchestra including the Music Director of Komische Oper Berlin Rolf Reuter, Principal Conductor of Berlin Symphony Orchestra Michael Schønwandt, Director of Munich Symphony Orchestra Heiko Mathias Förster, Director of Hamburg State Opera Simone Young, Dean of Sydney Conservatorium of Music Ronald Smart, chancellor of the Mozarteum University of Salzburg Reinhart Von Gutzeit, and Japanese conductor Yoshikawa Fukumura.
The orchestra has performed with prominent Chinese composer Tan Dun, Chinese pianists Lang Lang, Li Yundi, and Sa Chen, Spanish tenor José Carreras, and movie music master Erich Kunzel.