Founded in 1993, the Bilkent Symphony Orchestra has become one of Turkey's most prominent ensembles, touring widely and attracting international guest stars. The orchestra has served as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador for Turkey. Beginning with a tour of Italy in 1998, the orchestra has often appeared outside Turkey, presenting concerts in Germany and Japan, among other countries. The long list of international-caliber soloists who have appeared with the group includes pianist Lang Lang and violinist Shlomo Mintz. The Bilkent Symphony Orchestra has often championed the works of composer Ahmed Adnan Saygun, making its debut recording in 2008 with an album featuring the composer's concertos for cello and viola. In 2022, the orchestra backed pianist Jean-Philippe Collard on a recording of piano concertos by Scriabin and Rimsky-Korsakov.