About

Dorset Chamber Orchestra was founded in 1987 by Robert Jacoby, our Music Director Emeritus.  We perform four concerts a year, each with a 3-week compressed rehearsal schedule.

Based in Dorchester, our players are drawn from across Dorset and beyond.  We offer high quality performances of a wide range of classical music in a part of the County not regularly visited by professional orchestras.

Our recent concerts may be found here 

Walter Brewster has been our Music Director since 2015, and conducts all our rehearsals and performances.

Over the past 30 years the orchestra has been privileged to provide a concerto platform for more than 80 student and young professional musicians.

One of the season highlights is our annual March concert for younger people, supported for many years by our Patron, Martin Clunes OBE. Recent performances include Prokofiev’s ‘Peter and the Wolf’, Kleinsinger’s ‘Tubby the Tuba’, and Saint-Saëns’ ‘Carnival of the Animals’.

If you are interested in playing with us, please click here.

If you are a full-time music student or in the early stages of your professional career and wish to be considered for a possible concerto opportunity, please click here.

Financially we depend on the loyal support of our Friends and our audience.  If you would like to become a Friend, please click here

We also welcome offers of sponsorship.  If you wish to talk to us about sponsoring a specific piece, a soloist, or a concert, please click here