Berkeley Symphony was founded in 1969 as the Berkeley Promenade Orchestra by Thomas Rarick, a young protégé of Sir Adrian Boult, the great English maestro. Reflecting the spirit of the times, the Promenade replaced tuxedos with informal street dress and performed in unusual locations, including the University Art Museum.

In January 2009, Joana Carneiro began her tenure as Berkeley Symphony's only third Music Director in its 40-year history. Staying true to the orchestra's tradition of presenting the cutting edge of classical music, her inaugural season featured works by several prominent contemporary Bay Area composers, including John Adams, Gabriela Lena Frank, and Paul Dresher. Under Carneiro, the orchestra has begun to forge new relationships with living composers. The 2010-11 season will feature two orchestra-commissioned works, a return appearance by Adams, along with lesser-known works by composers old and new.

Berkeley Symphony has received seven American Society of Composers, Authors & Publishers Awards for Adventurous Programming of Contemporary Music in the last ten years.