Conductor Zuohuang Chen served as the orchestra's inaugural Music Director for two years, before passing the baton to  Lü Jia, who specialises in conducting operas. The orchestra is now known for its mastery of both operatic and concert repertoires, and as it developed its performance style during the past 15 years, it started adding Asian flavours to the Classical works it performed at home and abroad. Its clear renditions of challenging works have helped audiences further appreciate the glamour of Classical music.

The orchestra has had the privilege of working with some of the most iconic names in Classical music, including  Lorin Maazel, Zubin Mehta, Valery Gergiev, Christoph Eschenbach, Daniele Gatti and Vladimir Ashkenazy. Maazel, in particular, fostered a close relationship with the orchestra before his passing, lauding its "amazing professionalism and great passion for music". Eschenbach echoed this sentiment, declaring the orchestra to be "one of the finest orchestras in Asia".

One of the orchestra's crowning achievements came with the live recording of The Ring without Words, conducted by its creator, Lorin Maazel. Released globally by Sony Music, this recording holds a special place in history as the only one Maazel ever made with a Chinese orchestra. In 2021, the NCPAO etched its name into the annals of Classical music once again, becoming the first Chinese orchestra to record Beethoven's Egmont. Now, in 2024, the orchestra continues to push boundaries with the release of Bruckner's complete numbered symphonies—an ambitious project that further cements its place as a pioneering force in the world of Classical music. Today, the China NCPA Orchestra comprises 128 musicians and has seen significant growth since its founding 15 years ago, developing into a more mature and cohesive ensemble. As one of the leading new-generation national orchestras in mainland China, it has earned a solid reputation on the international stage.