BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra

The BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO) is the BBC's classical music radio orchestra in Scotland.

Founded as the BBC Scottish Orchestra in 1935 by the Scottish composer and conductor Ian Whyte, the orchestra developed a strong profile supporting the BBC Symphony Orchestra in the UK and abroad, performing regularly at the BBC Proms, the Edinburgh and Cheltenham festivals. Every season, it tours Scotland extensively, bringing orchestral classical music to the smaller provincial towns as well as the larger cities. It also has a recording contract with Hyperion Records.

Since January 2003, the orchestra's Chief Conductor is the Israeli-born Ilan Volkov, the youngest-ever chief conductor of any BBC orchestra. In 2006 the orchestra returned to its home, the Glasgow City Hall, which had undergone several years of restoration and refurbishment. Jonathan Harvey is the BBC SSO's Composer-in-Association. In September 2007, the orchestra announced the conclusion of Volkov's tenure as chief conductor in September 2009. In October 2007, the orchestra announced the appointment of Donald Runnicles as their next Chief Conductor in September 2009, for an initial contract of 3 years. In December 2008, the BBC SSO announced the appointment of Volkov as its principal guest conductor, to commence after the conclusion of his tenure as chief conductor, for an initial contract of 3 years with 4 weeks of scheduled guest-conducting appearances.