Dunedin Symphony Orchestra

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Dunedin Symphony Orchestra Live orchestral music for the people of Ōtepoti Dunedin, Otago and Southland. For more information, please see dso.org.nz

We belong to a distinguished 130 year history of symphonic music in Ōtepoti Dunedin. Today the orchestra continues to perform high calibre concerts as an important part of our region’s creative culture while also cementing our deep community connections.

Help us raise $60,000 for our 60th anniversary!As we approach the end of our 60th anniversary year, we’re asking our com...
20/10/2026

Help us raise $60,000 for our 60th anniversary!

As we approach the end of our 60th anniversary year, we’re asking our community to help secure the future of the DSO and the music we bring to Dunedin. Can you help us reach our $60,000 fundraising target? Every donation counts and will help support the orchestra’s future.

❤️ Donate by 6 November 2026.

Visit our website to donate and help ensure the next 60 years of orchestral music in Dunedin.

The next 60 years start with you!

We're thrilled to collaborate with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in presenting Creative Music Workshops to Dunedin ...
12/10/2026

We're thrilled to collaborate with the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in presenting Creative Music Workshops to Dunedin kids! Today three of our DSO players and NZSO's Animateur Chris Lam Sam visited Abbotsford Primary School and Pine Hill School to show the kids that they can make and create music! By organising sound ideas into order, using their imagination to create narratives, and listening and working together, these kids discovered how to compose a short piece and play together as if in their own little orchestra. Check out these kids from Pine Hill working with our DSO players to connect emotions to music.

Prior to these workshops, a dozen DSO players participated in a training session led by Chris, who guided our players in how to run these kinds of workshops. This invaluable opportunity for educational professional development will help our players bring their to Dunedin kids for years into the future.

12/10/2026

DSO players and NZSO's Animateur Chris Lam Sam visited Pine Hill School today to present a Creative Music Workshop! Here are the team and Pine Hill kids playing 'Pass the Sound'. Listen for the foot rumble!

Celebrating our long-serving DSO players🎶 At our ‘DSO 60th Gala’ Concert on 19 September, we took a special moment after...
29/09/2026

Celebrating our long-serving DSO players🎶 At our ‘DSO 60th Gala’ Concert on 19 September, we took a special moment after the concert to recognise players of the orchestra who have given 20 years or more of their musical talent, commitment and dedication to the DSO.

The long-service awards were presented by our Principal Guest Conductor James Judd and Diana Hudson, Chair of the DSO Board.

👏 Congratulations to all our long-serving players!

Here are some of the wonderful musicians who have dedicated so many years to the DSO!

A note about the photographs: All photographs were captured using a Nikon Z8 with a NIKKOR Z 70–200mm f/2.8 VR S lens, shot in camera RAW and professionally post-processed in Adobe Lightroom Classic. No AI manipulation has been used. The images are the original photographs captured at the event and professionally post-processed in Lightroom Classic.

Scroll through the photographs to see some of the wonderful players who have given so many years to the DSO. Their names, instruments and years of service are listed below in the same order as the photographs.

Feby Idrus — Flute — 20 years
Karen Knudson — Double Bass — 23 years
Jerome Rouse — French Horn — 22 years
David Burchell — Harpsichord & Organ — 23 years
Fiona Pickering — Flute — 23 years
Emily Sterk — Clarinet — 24 years
Rowena Bell — Oboe — 25 years
Sally Couper — Violin — 25 years
Kate Lovell — Double Bass — 26 years
Ralph Miller — Trumpet — 26 years
Pamela Seccombe — Cello — 26 years
Nick Cornish — Oboe — 27 years
Robert Craigie — Percussion & Timpani — 28 years
Tessa Petersen — Violin — 29 years. Violin Concertmaster for 11 years
Alison Bowcott — Viola — 30 years
Claire Anderson — Violin — 31 years
Sandra Crawshaw — Violin — 32 years
Mark Anderson — Timpani — 32 years
Elaine Wilden — Cello — 35 years
Beverley Dwan — Violin — 39 years
Anna Petersen — Cello — 42 years
Stephen Cranefield — Clarinet — 44 years
Dean Hollebon — Violin — 44 years
James Mackay — Clarinet — 49 years
Patricia Dean — Double Bass — 51 years
Patricia Leen — Violin — 58 years

Some of our long-serving players were unable to be with us on the evening, but we also want to acknowledge their remarkable contribution to the DSO:

Peter Adams — Clarinet — 20 years
David Murray — Cello — 27 years
Mark Anderson - Timpani – 32 years
Ron Caldwell — Trumpet — 33 years
Wayne Perniskie — Cello — 33 years
Katrine Sharples — Viola — 38 years
William Henderson — Trombone — 43 years
Allan Starrett — Viola — 43 years

❤️ The DSO simply would not exist without its players.

To every player who has given so many years to the orchestra — thank you for your musicianship, commitment and dedication. You are an essential part of the DSO's history and its future.

Congratulations to you all! 👏🎶

A LEGACY TO KEEP MUSIC LIVE 🎶 On Saturday 19 September, during the pre-concert function for the DSO’s 60th Gala Concert,...
22/09/2026

A LEGACY TO KEEP MUSIC LIVE 🎶 On Saturday 19 September, during the pre-concert function for the DSO’s 60th Gala Concert, we officially launched the Foundation for the DSO bequest drive— an important step in helping secure the future of orchestral music in Ōtepoti Dunedin.

For 60 years, the DSO has been bringing live orchestral music to our community — performing concerts, inspiring young musicians, supporting education and creating opportunities for people to experience the transformative power of live music.

But while we celebrate 60 years of history, we also need to think about the next 60 years.

The Foundation has been established to build a long-term financial nest egg to help safeguard the DSO for future musicians and music-lovers.

You can be part of that future.

You may wish to consider leaving a bequest to the Foundation in your Will, or you can make a donation during your lifetime. Gifts of any size can make a difference and help ensure that live music continues for generations to come.

As the Foundation says:

“A legacy to keep music live!”

Find out more about the Foundation, bequests and how you can make a donation here: https://www.dso.org.nz/foundation-for-the-dso

We want to hear from YOU! 🎶As we celebrate 60 years of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, we'd love to know what you think ...
21/09/2026

We want to hear from YOU! 🎶
As we celebrate 60 years of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra, we'd love to know what you think about your experiences with the DSO and our concerts.
💬 Have your say in our 2026 Audience Survey!

Your feedback helps us understand our audience and shape the future of the DSO.

🎟️ Complete the survey and go in the draw to win a double subscription to the DSO's 2027 International Concert Series!

👉 Take the survey here:
https://www.dso.org.nz/online-audience-survey-2026

The survey closes Friday, 9 October 2026.

Thank you for being part of the DSO's journey — and helping us shape the next 60 years! ❤️

🎉 What a party! What a bash! What a way to celebrate 60 years of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra! 🎶🥂 Last night, the Dune...
20/09/2026

🎉 What a party! What a bash! What a way to celebrate 60 years of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra! 🎶🥂 Last night, the Dunedin Town Hall was filled with well over 1,000 people who came together to celebrate this incredible milestone with us.

Our orchestra was in top form under the baton of Principal Guest Conductor James Judd, joined by two stellar soloists, pianist Michael Houstoun and bass-baritone Jonathan Lemalu. What an unforgettable evening of music, celebration and memories! A huge thank you to everyone who came along and helped us celebrate — and to the Foundation of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra for sponsoring this very special 60th Gala Concert.
💙 Did you enjoy the concert? We’d love to hear from you! Tell us in the comments — and let us know if you’ll be joining us for the next 60 years of the DSO!🎶

🎶 Final preparations are underway!🎶Excellent rehearsal tonight at the Dunedin Centre & Dunedin Town Hall as we put the...
18/09/2026

🎶 Final preparations are underway!🎶
Excellent rehearsal tonight at the Dunedin Centre & Dunedin Town Hall as we put the finishing touches to our 60th Gala Concert tomorrow evening at 7.30pm. 🎻🎺🎶
We’re celebrating 60 Years in Harmony with YOU — and we’d love you to join us for this very special occasion!

🎟️ Tickets are still available online, or from 6.30pm at the doors tomorrow evening.

Come and celebrate six decades of music, memories and community with us! ❤️

Address

65 Hanover Street
Dunedin
9016

Opening Hours

Monday 9am - 5pm
Tuesday 9am - 5pm
Wednesday 9am - 5pm
Thursday 9am - 5pm
Friday 9am - 5pm

Telephone

+6434775623

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