Since 2006, the orchestra's artistic work has been shaped by conductor and composer Marko Ivanović, who remains its principal musical leader. The cornerstone of each season is Steps into the New World, a series of narrated concerts for school groups and the general public. Through this programme, young musicians regularly rehearse and perform major works from the symphonic, concerto and vocal-orchestral repertoire. Beyond the concert hall, members of the orchestra engage with audiences through post-concert discussions and visits to schools, demonstrating that classical music can play a meaningful role in young people's lives and that enthusiasm for it is something worth sharing.
A defining moment in the orchestra's history came with its collaboration with Sir Simon Rattle, former Chief Conductor of the Berlin Philharmonic and now Chief Conductor of the Bavarian Radio Symphony Orchestra. During a visit to Prague in June 2020, Sir Simon expressed a wish to work with "young people", and the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra was invited to collaborate. This partnership opened the door to regular appearances alongside the Czech Philharmonic in its subscription concerts and to collaborations with internationally renowned conductors including Semyon Bychkov, Jakub Hrůša, Giovanni Antonini and, once again, Sir Simon Rattle in December 2025.
In February 2027, the Czech Philharmonic Youth Orchestra will perform under the baton of Charles Dutoit as part of the Czech Philharmonic's subscription concert series. In the summer of 2027, it will also appear at Young Euro Classic, the international festival of youth orchestras in Berlin.
