Since its inaugural concert in 1987 the Dorset Chamber Orchestra has performed widely throughout the area from Bridgwater and Axminster to Ringwood and Christchurch with an auspicious debut at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall in 1996.

A main aim has always been to provide a concerto platform for outstanding young soloists and some forty of these have appeared with the Orchestra. In a number of instances this opportunity has proved to be an important stage in the development of young players of truly exceptional gifts. Clarinettist Fiona Cross (soloist at the inaugural concert), ’cellist Rebecca Gilliver (soloist at the second concert), violinist Malu Lin, pianist Fiona Dalzell and mezzo–soprano Sophie Grech are just a few who have gone on to win major prizes and establish distinguished professional careers, while Natalie Clein’s international celebrity status as the first BBCTV and Eurovision Young Musician of the Year came as no surprise to those who were present at her brilliant debut with the DChO a year or so earlier at the age of fifteen.

John Lill’s complete Beethoven Piano Concerto Cycle at Weymouth Pavilion in concerts spread over just two days was another highlight of the first ten years, a period during which the Orchestra also presented all nine Beethoven symphonies.

More recently, in May 2011, the orchestra was delighted to welcome John Lill back to perform Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 1 and the equally dazzling Piano Sonata in B Minor.