Founded as a reading orchestra in 1992 by Music Director David Leibowitz, NYRO has presented full seasons of free concerts since 2000. With repertoire ranging from early music to contemporary compositions, including many world premieres and NYRO commissions, and with an emphasis on neglected masterpieces from the orchestral repertoire, the ensemble has performed over 200 separate works without repetition.

In addition to its regular season NYRO has participated in the Music Festival of the Hamptons and the Music at St. Paul's series at Columbia University. In 2002, the ensemble was invited to perform Johannes Brahms' German Requiem in a memorial concert for 9/11 as a participant in the "Columbia Remembers" program at Columbia University.

In January of 2004, NYRO performed in the Inaugural Chinese New Year Global Gala, broadcast worldwide by NTD Television, and in 2005 the ensemble recorded the soundtrack for the award-winning motion picture Casi Casi. Also in 2004, the orchestra presented a highly-acclaimed, fully-staged production of Mozart's "Abduction from the Seraglio" at Baruch College's Mason Auditorium.

Since 2005, NYRO has performed an annual concert on Pier 35, on the East River, in association with the Two Bridges Neighborhood Council of New York's Lower East Side. In January of 2006, NYRO was again invited to perform in the Chinese New Year Global Gala at Radio City Music Hall, and broadcast worldwide by NTD Television.

The New York Repertory Orchestra was recently honored by the Omega Ensemble of New York with its "Gift to the City" award for past and ongoing contributions to the musical life of New York City.