During the opening concert, which was held on 10 November 1947, the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra performed under the baton of its first conductor, Stanisław Wisłocki. He was later succeeded by Jerzy Katlewicz, Robert Satanowski, Witold Krzemieński, Zdzisław Szostak, Renard Czajkowski, Wojciech Rajski, Wojciech Michniewski, Andrzej Borejko, Mirosław Jacek Błaszczyk, José Maria Florencio, and Grzegorz Nowak.

In the 2007/2008 artistic season, Marek Pijarowski became the Chief Conductor of the Poznań Philharmonic Orchestra. One of the most famous and recognized Polish symphonic ensembles, the orchestra performs at major music centres at home and abroad.

It has toured almost all European countries, and performed at several leading international music festivals, incl. the Romaeuropa-Villa Medici, Kissingen Sommer, Ankara Sanat Festivali, Festwochen in Herrenhausen, Bregenzer Frühling, Dresdner Musikfestspiele, and Choriner Musiksommer.

The Orchestra accompanied participants of the first post-war edition of the Chopin Competition in Warsaw; since 1952, it has regularly played with the finalists of International Henryk Wieniawski Violin Competitions in Poznań.

The main symphonic ensemble of the Poznańska Wiosna Muzyczna (Poznań Music Spring), it also participates in the Warszawska Jesień (Warsaw Autumn) and Wratislavia Cantans festivals in Wrocław, and often gives premiere performances of contemporary pieces by Polish and foreign composers.

An important event in the orchestra's history was its performance to Pope John Paul II at the Vatican. The Orchestra has performed with such illustrious conductors, as Hermann Abendroth, Roberto Benzi, Walerian Bierdiajew, Henryk Czyż, Marco Erede, János Ferencsik, George Georgescu, Zdzisław Górzyński, Christopher Hogwood, Jacek Kaspszyk, Kazimierz Kord, Jan Krenz, Zygmunt Latoszewski, Zdeněk Mácal, Jerzy Maksymiuk, Witold Rowicki, Jerzy Semkow, Stanisław Skrowaczewski, Václav Smetáček, Antoni Wit, Bohdan Wodiczko, Carlo Zecchi, as well as with outstanding soloists: Martha Argerich, Piotr Beczała, Rafał Blechacz, Pavol Breslik, Sarah Chang, Andrzej Dobber, Helen Donath, Wojciech Drabowicz, Jean Fournier, Malcolm Frager, Alexander Gavrylyuk, Monique Haas, Ida Haendel, Andrzej Hiolski, Ryszard Karczykowski, Antonina Kawecka, Olga Kern, Joanna Kozłowska, Gidon Kremer, Konstanty Andrzej Kulka, Aleksandra Kurzak, Sergei Leiferkus, Christian Lindberg, Bernard Ładysz, Adam Makowicz, Witold Małcużyński, Annick Massis, Albrecht Mayer, Francesco Meli, Johannes Moser, Leszek Możdżer, Victoria Mullova, Sergei Nakariakov, Wiesław Ochman, Garrick Ohlsson, David and Igor Oistrakhs, Emmanuel Pahud, Ewa Podleś, Maurizio Pollini, Samuel Ramey, Vadim Repin, Rug giero Ricci, Sviatoslav Richter, Mstislav Rostropovich, Artur Rubinstein, Alexandra Soumm, Göran Söllscher, Akiko Suwanai, Henryk Szeryng, Stefania Toczyska, Arcadi Volodos, Wanda Wiłkomirska, Narciso Yepes, Krystian Zimerman.

The ensemble have made numerous recordings of symphonic, opera, and ballet pieces for the radio, television, and record companies (Sony Classical, Polmusic, Wichtel Records, Polskie Nagrania, Muza, Largo Records, Dux, CD Accord, Naxos).