The National Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine (known as Ukrainian State Symphony Orchestra before 1994) is one of the leading symphony orchestras in Eastern Europe The NSOU was formed in 1918 by Counsel of Ministers of Ukraine. The first conductor was Oleksander Horilyj. Natan Rachlin was Artist Director of the orchestra from 1937 for 25 years. Konstantin Simeonov, Stefan Turchak, Volodymyr Kozhuchar, Fedir Hlushchenko, Igor Blazhkov and Theodore Kuchar consequently conducted the orchestra as Principal Conductors. From April 1999, Volodymyr Sirenko is Chief Conductor of the Orchestra.

Other conductors who worked with the NSOU included Leopold Stokovsky, Igor Markevitch, Kurt Sanderling, Evgeny Mravinsky, Kirill Kondrashyn, Evgeny Svetlanov, Gennady Rozhdestvensky. Soloists who have performed with the NSOU included Artur Rubinstein, Yehudy Menuhin, Isaak Stern, David Oistrach, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Emil Gilels, Leonid Kogan, Gideon Kremer, Oleh Krysa, Moncerrat Caballe, Jose Carreras.

The NSOU was trusted with the premier performances by the works of following composers: Sergiy Prokofiev, Dmitriy Shostakovich, Aram Khatchaturian, Borys Lyatoshynsky, Levko Revutsky.

The Orchestra has gained international recognition over remarkable short period of time. After an appearance in Moscow, the composer Shostakovich commented: "This orchestra has as distinguished a group of performers as one would be likely to find anywhere. The ensemble of the orchestra is of the highest level. In addition, the various soloist and instrumental groups within the Orchestra play exceptionally and complement each other beautifully - as would greatest of the world's symphony orchestras."

In the last few years, the NSOU has recorded more than 40 compact discs of Ukrainian and international repertoire - it is the most "recorded" orchestra from the former USSR. In 1994, the Australian Broadcasting Company (ABC) rated NSOU's recording of Borys Lyatoshynsky's Symphonies No. 2 and No. 3 as "The Best Recording of the Year".

The NSOU has concert's tours to Australia, Austria, Czech Republic, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hong Kong, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, Spain, Belgium, Italy and Switzerland.

The NSOU consist of over 100 musicians. The repertoire of the orchestra includes complete symphonies of Beethoven, Brahms, Schubert, Bruckner, Mahler, Tchaikovsky, Kalinnikov, Rachmaninov, Skriabin, Prokofiev, Shostakovich, Lyatoshynsky, Martinu, contemporary music, even some opera and ballet repertoire.