LSSO was founded in was founded in the fall of 1973 by a group of players from the former North Side Symphony loyal to Milton Preves, long time principal viola of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Preves conducted the orchestra for one and a half seasons, before resigning due to increasing schedule conflicts with Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He returned for a guest appearance with the orchestra at its 25th anniversary gala, a few months before his death in early 1999.

He was succeeded by his assistant conductor, Steven Larsen, then recently graduated from the masters degree program in conducting at Northwestern University. Mr. Larsen conducted the orchestra for thirteen seasons until 1988. During that time he also held positions with the American Conservatory of Music and the Chicago Opera Theater. During his tenure, membership increased substantially, and the overall level of musicianship improved steadily. The orchestra switched from Friday to Monday evenings for rehearsal and left the Revere Park Field house for a series of residences, first at the Bethany UCC church, then St. Peter's Episcopal Church, and then the Augustana hospital chapel.

Mr. Larsen has the distinction of never having repeated a work on a regular subscription concert during his tenure. His choices of repertory were very wide and skillfully selected for his available forces. In one memorable year when the orchestra was particularly strong, he conducted the orchestra in Stravinsky's complete ballet, Petrouchka. Upon his departure in 1988, the LSSO board conferred on him the title Music Director Laureate. 

Following a conductor search assisted by Mr. Larsen, the board selected Phillip Baumann as music director. Mr. Baumann elicited some remarkable performances from the orchestra in his three and a half year tenure, but then chose to move on in 1992. Probably his most memorable performance was a stunning reading of Tchaikovsky's Symphony #6, "Pathetique" at the beginning of the 1990-91 season. He is currently associate conductor of the Elgin Symphony in Elgin Illinois.

During Mr. Baumann's tenure, board president Gary Grolle arranged for the orchestra to take up residence in the Copernicus Cultural Center. This is fortunate, because Augustana hospital was demolished shortly after their departure to make way for a town house development. The opening concert at the Copernicus Center featured Richard Strauss' Festival Prelude for Organ and Orchestra, with the Copernicus Center organ.

Following Mr. Baumann's departure, John Christie was named acting music director and then music director. His tenure featured imaginative programming and a strongly democratic orientation. He served until 1995. Mr. Christie has had a long and distinguished career in band and wind ensemble music, music publishing, and composition, including many fine transcriptions of orchestral repertory for symphonic band. He is founder and music director of the Highland Park Symphonic Winds.

Philip Simmons was appointed music director in 1995 and served until winter of 2001. His tenure was marked by a steady improvement in quality of playing and generally improved attendance. He is founder and music director of the Lincolnwood Chamber Orchestra.

Three distinguished guest conductors, Russell Vinick, Richard Wright, and John Bruce Yeh conducted the balance of the 2000-2001 season. Four additional guest conductors, Peter Lipari, Steven Huang, Robert Debbaut, and John Noworyta conducted the 2001-2002 season. 

At the end of the 2001-2002 season the board of directors surveyed the membership and named a new music director from our seven fine candidates: Russell Vinick.

After 18 years at the Copernicus Center, due to issues beyond LSSO's control, the orchestra was in need of a new home during the middle of the 2003-2004 season. After an extensive search, in February 2004, the Orchestra found their new home at the Northside College Preparatory High School.