Based in England, the New English Orchestra is composed of high quality instrumentalists drawn from some of the top orchestras in the world. These include the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC’s Symphony and Philharmonic Orchestras, the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Hallé Orchestra and many others. The NEO searches continually for the most powerful forms of artistic expression. To this end it employs huge varieties of period and style, delights in the virtuosity of outstanding players and commissions top British composers to write new works. It is adaptable in size from a small chamber ensemble to a Big Band or full Symphony Orchestra.

The NEO Singers are a polished and versatile group with an extensive repertoire ranging from choral classics to contemporary works. This versatility allows the Singers to perform such rarities as choral music from Estonia or tribal music from Africa with remarkable ease. A feature of their lively and enthusiastic style is the ability to communicate effectively with their audience, an approach which is aided by their memorising all that they sing.

As well as the Singers, the NEO Dancers are often to be seen adding a totally different dimension to concerts with a wide-range of dance styles and innovative choreography e.g. . in the Domplatz, Salzburg, in 1995, they created a series of spectacular dances using movements from Handel's 'Messiah,' and in 1997 to Mozart’s Eine Kleine Nachtmusik as well as Jazz Spirituals.

Through its ever varied concerts the NEO has attracted a loyal following. Performances have been given in the UK at Birmingham’s NEC Arena and Symphony Hall, the Royal Albert Hall in London,the Bridgewater Hall in Manchester, Bristol’s Colston Hall and several other notable venues. The NEO Vigils have also been held in cathedrals up and down the country and in 1998 they held a major open-air event attracting 5,000 to Centenary Square in Birmingham. Further afield, the NEO has played in St.Petersburg, Russia, in Spain at Expo ‘92, and in Sweden. The NEO has also been a regular visitor to Salzburg during the International Music Festival. For example, in 1997 they celebrated their 21st Birthday by performing in the famous Mozarteum concert hall, a gift to the NEO from the Salzburg Festival in recognition of the orchestra’s commitment to the city over the years. They returned to Salzburg in 2000 and 2003 performing in the ancient St Peter's Stiftskirche, a venue much loved by NEO.

The New English Orchestra has also enjoyed working on various television projects with both the BBC and ITV, as well as various BBC radio programmes including, most recently, an appearance live on BBC 1 on Christmas Day 2002. Their concerts in Russia, Spain and Austria have been filmed by national television and radio stations with programmes subsequently broadcast as far afield as Canada, Australia and Japan.

All members of the NEO are Christians drawn from both Protestant and Catholic traditions.