The National Symphonic Orchestra of the Polish Radio in Katowice (formerly: the Great Symphonic Orchestra of the Polish Radio) was founded in 1935 in Warszawa. The Symphonic Orchestra of the Polish Radio was set up and managed until the outbreak of WW2 by Grzegorz Fitelberg. In March 1945 the Orchestra was reactivated in Katowice by Witold Rowicki, in 1947 Grzegorz Fitelberg became its artistic director once again. Starting from 1953 for the next 15 years it was run by Jan Krenz and subsequently by Bohdan Wodiczko, Kazimierz Kord, Tadeusz Strugała, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Stanisław Wisłocki, Jacek Kasprzyk, Antoni Wit, Gabriel Chmura. Since 2000 Joanna Wnuk-Nazarowa has been its managing director and since 2009 Jacek Kaspszyk has been the artistic director.
NOSPR has made numerous radio recordings including premiers which is the result of their cooperation with contemporary composers. The Orchestra has recorded nearly 150 CDs for the following labels: Polskie Nagrania, EMI-HMV, Decca, Philips/Point Music, Chandos, Naxos, it has received many prestigious awards such as Diapason d’Or, Grand Prix du Disque de la Nouvelle Académie du Disque, and Cannes Classical Award twice.