Heinrich Schütz was associated with the orchestra early in its existence. In the 19th century,
Carl Maria von Weber and
Richard Wagner each served as
Hofkapellmeister. In the 20th century,
Richard Strauss became closely associated with the orchestra as both conductor and composer, which premiered several of his works.
Karl Böhm and
Hans Vonk were notable among the orchestra's chief conductors in that they served as chief conductors of both the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and the State Opera simultaneously.
Herbert Blomstedt was musical director of the Staatskapelle from 1975 to 1985, and now has the title of
Ehrendirigent (honorary conductor) with the orchestra.
Hiroshi Wakasugi had served as a regular conductor with the orchestra since 1982, and was elected as the successor to Hans Vonk, but the reunification of West Germany and East Germany caused the contract to be annulled.
Giuseppe Sinopoli was chief conductor from 1992 until his sudden death in 2001.
Bernard Haitink replaced him in August 2002, but resigned in 2004 over disputes with the Staatskapelle's
Intendant,
Gerd Uecker, on the orchestra's choice of successor. In August 2007
Fabio Luisi began his tenure as chief conductor after having been appointed as far back as January 2004. He shared with Böhm and Vonk the historic distinction of being chief conductor of both the Sächsische Staatskapelle Dresden and the Sächsische Staatsoper simultaneously. Luisi was scheduled to step down as chief conductor in 2012 in accord with the October 2009 announcement of
Christian Thielemann as the orchestra's next chief conductor, effective with the 2012–2013 season. However, Luisi resigned as chief conductor of the Staatskapelle in February 2010, effective immediately, after reports that the management had secured a contract with the
ZDF network for a scheduled televised concert on New Year's Eve 2011 without consulting him at all in his capacity as the orchestra's GMD. Thielemann was initially contracted with the orchestra through 2019. In November 2017, the orchestra announced the extension of Thielemann's contract as chief conductor through 31 July 2024. In May 2021,
Barbara Klepsch, the Culture Minister of Saxony, announced that Thielemann is to conclude his tenure with the Staatskapelle Dresden at the close of his current contract, at the end of July 2024.
Sir Colin Davis held the title of 'conductor laureate' from 1990 until his death in 2013, the first and only to-date conductor to be granted this title by the orchestra. The orchestra named
Myung-Whun Chung as its first-ever principal guest conductor, effective as of the 2012–2013 season. In 2007, the orchestra inaugurated the post of
Capell-Compositeur or composer-in-residence, with each appointed composer installed for one concert season. The first
Capell-Compositeur was
Isabel Mundry.
Sofia Gubaidulina was
Capell-Compositrice for the 2014–2015 and 2016–2017 seasons, the first composer to hold the title more than once.
Arvo Pärt held the title of
Capell-Compositeur for the 2017–2018 season. The orchestra featured Sinopoli as its
Capell-Compostiteur for the 2020–2021 season as a posthumous tribute. In April 2007, the European Cultural Foundation awarded the orchestra a prize "
zur Bewahrung des musikalischen Weltkulturerbes" (for preservation of the world's musical heritage"). In June 2011, the orchestra was announced as the new resident orchestra of the
Salzburg Easter Festival, as of 2013. The orchestra received the
Herbert von Karajan Prize in 2022 and donated the prize money of 50,000 euros to the project
Musaik – Grenzenlos musizieren. ==Kapellmeister and chief conductors==