Editing BBC Symphony Orchestra (section)

===Function in the 21st century===
[[File:BBCSO rehearsing for the last night of the Proms.jpg|thumb|right|BBC SO rehearsing for the [[Last Night of the Proms]] in September 2011]]
The BBC SO is the associate orchestra of the [[Barbican Centre]] in London, where it gives an annual season of concerts. These seasons include series of concerts devoted to individual modern composers, who have included [[John Cage]], [[James MacMillan]], [[Elliott Carter]], [[Sofia Gubaidulina]], [[Michael Tippett]], [[George Benjamin (composer)|George Benjamin]], [[Roberto Carnevale]] and [[Thomas Adès]].<ref name=biog/><ref name=prof>[https://web.archive.org/web/20080105062557/http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/symphonyorchestra/about_us/history.shtml "A profile of the BBC Symphony Orchestra"], BBC Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 1 August 2012</ref>

The orchestra remains the principal orchestra of the Proms, giving about a dozen concerts each season, including the first and last nights.<ref name=prof/> Most of its concerts are broadcast on [[BBC Radio 3]], streamed online and available as podcasts for a month after broadcast, and a number are televised: the orchestra's website claims that this gives the BBC "the highest broadcast profile of any UK orchestra".<ref name=biog/> The orchestra continues to make studio recordings for Radio 3 at the Maida Vale studios; some recording sessions are free for the public to attend.<ref name=biog/>

In common with other orchestras, the BBC SO engages in educational work. According to the orchestra's website: "Among ongoing projects are the BBC SO Family Music Intro scheme, introducing families to live classical music, BBC SO Student Zone and the highly successful BBC SO Family Orchestra, alongside work in local schools. Total Immersion composer events also provide rich material for education work."<ref name=biog>[https://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/pdf/bbc_so_biog_2012.pdf "Biography"], BBC Symphony Orchestra. Retrieved 1 August 2012</ref>

In 2000, the orchestra appointed its first associate composer, [[Mark-Anthony Turnage]]. [[John Adams (composer)|John Adams]] became the BBC Symphony Orchestra's artist in association in June 2003. The composer and conductor [[Oliver Knussen]] took up the post of artist-in-association in July 2009.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20090208021242/http://www.bbc.co.uk/orchestras/symphonyorchestra/news/oliver_knussen.shtml "Oliver Knussen becomes BBC Symphony Orchestra's new Artist in Association"], BBC Symphonnewy Orchestra. Retrieved 1 August 2012</ref> The orchestra's commitment to new music continues. In 2013, the music journalist [[Tom Service]] wrote, "I've heard the BBC Symphony give concerts that I don't think any other orchestra in the world could do as brilliantly … That supreme virtuosity in new music makes them unique among London's big orchestras."<ref>Service, Tom. [https://www.theguardian.com/music/2013/jul/10/conductor-sakari-oramo-first-night-proms "Conductor Sakari Oramo: the Finn's First Night at the Proms"], ''The Guardian'', 10 July 2013</ref>