In 1988, Andrzej Affeltowicz became the conductor of the orchestra. Since 1990, it has been known as the Polish Youth Symphony Orchestra. The orchestra’s participation in festivals has become a source of inspiration for their work, and the connections established through these events allowed them to perform in Denmark, Scotland, Germany, Munich, and Austria.
The ensemble frequently performs for Polish audiences and has appeared in such venues as the Philharmonies in Kraków, Poznań, and Szczecin, as well as the concert halls of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, Studio S1 of the Polish Radio, and the University of Music in Warsaw. They have been performing at the National Philharmonic since 1990.
The orchestra has frequently accompanied soloists during the Silesian Piano Competition in Zabrze. Since 2005, they have also accompanied the laureates of the National Bassoon-Oboe Festival. It has become a tradition for the orchestra to perform with the school’s students during their diploma concerts.
From 2015, the orchestra was under the direction of Maciej Tomasiewicz. In 2015, they participated in the National Competition for Secondary Music School Orchestras and performed during the final concert at the Concert Studio of the Polish Radio. In 2016, they appeared at the La Folle Journée festival, and another success was their performance during the gala celebrating the 70th anniversary of the school’s activity.
From October 2019, the orchestra worked under the direction of Marta Zielińska. The ensemble accompanied soloists during concerts, participated in community events, and performed at the Silesian Opera. One of their achievements was the performance of Karl Jenkins’s Gloria.
In September 2022, Filip Huget became the conductor of the orchestra. Recently, the ensemble has been involved in numerous projects. These include showcasing repertoire related to the National Independence Day, promoting contemporary music, and accompanying participants of the Silesian Piano Competition in Zabrze.