New York's One World Symphony was founded in 2001 by conductor and composer Sung Jin Hong and graphic designer and singer Adrienne Metzinger-Hong, among others. The ensemble is a community of gifted artists who have performed in some of the world's most prestigious ensembles and venues across the globe. One World Symphony is comprised of more than sixty orchestral/chamber musicians and thirty vocal artists, in addition to a team of composers and conductors. One World Symphony has three residencies at historic venues in New York City: Ansche Chesed Synagogue on the Upper West Side, St. Ann and the Holy Trinity in Brooklyn Heights, and The Town Hall in Midtown Manhattan, where it performs to sold-out audiences. In addition, One World Symphony continues to be invited to perform as a guest ensemble in other venues, such as concert series at Bard College and Great Music for a Great City at the CUNY Grad Center, and to collaborate with other esteemed artists, including Paul Taylor, Take, and Misnomer Dance Companies.

Sung Jin Hong and Adrienne Metzinger after their first concert together in December 2000.

One World Symphony's commitment to the general philosophies of music education goes one step deeper than most organizations by engaging audience members and young musicians alike to actively participate in its live performances. Conductor Sung Jin Hong invited a sold-out Town Hall audience to participate in choruses from Leonard Bernstein's Symphonic Dances From West Side Story. During a performance of Beethoven's Ninth Symphony in 2001, a capacity crowd stood to join the One World Symphony Chorus in singing "Ode to Joy." Hong has also extended such an invitation to a younger audience, when thirty elementary violin students from The Promise Academy in Harlem's Children's Zone performed in Holst's The Planets with One World Symphony. During its 2007-2008 season One World Symphony will premiere an symphonic arrangement of Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody with audience members.

One World Symphony presents thematically inspired programs that fire the imagination by relating different forms of music to visual, literal, philosophical, and political arts. The "Shakespeare: Love and Madness" program of the 2005-2006 season ventured into opera in Verdi's Otello and orchestral in Prokofiev's Romeo and Juliet, and included a world premiere in Stan Grill's Ophelia Songs for orchestra and soprano. The entire 2006-2007 season embraced all forms of the arts relating to "Heroes, Anti-Heroes, and Femmes Fatales." Highlights in its current "Contrasts and Controversies" examine our origins with Creation vs. Evolution and New York's rich musical culture with Uptown vs. Downtown.

The Town Hall presents One World Symphony and Sung Jin Hong in their sold-out debut concert at the historic hall.

In its six-year history, One World Symphony has raised thousands of dollars for charitable causes and organizations: the Uniformed Firefighter's Association Widows' and Children's Fund in October 2001, United Spinal Association In New York in November 2002, tsunami victims in South East Asia and East Africa in January of 2005, and Hurricane Katrina victims in October of 2005. It has also performed in charitable and public benefits, such as New York City's Veteran's Day Parade and Eastern Paralyzed Veterans' Luncheon with Senator Hillary Clinton. One World Symphony's 2007-2008 season opener, held the weekend before Thanksgiving, will benefit The Coalition for the Homeless. Brooklyn Borough President Marty Markowitz publicly proclaimed and recognized One World Symphony's local and global humanitarian efforts:

"Whereas, it is a Brooklyn tradition to celebrate the spirit of generosity and concern for one's fellow human beings in their time of need, it is only fitting that this office should recognize and honor One World Symphony working to support humanitarian relief efforts around the world. I salute and commend Conductor Sung Jin Hong and all the talented musicians of the One World Symphony for their generously donating their musical skill to help those in such great need, and for sharing their beautiful music with us tonight."

One World Symphony is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization.