Annual Appeal 2025 - 'Connecting through Music'

Dear Music Lover,

2025 has been our year of bold innovation and meaningful collaboration, focusing on music and performances that connect those on-stage, our audiences and our wider community. Audiences were treated to some exciting collaborations which included two world premières, and which involved connections between composers, conductors, soloists and the orchestra.

Our thriving community connections flourished through a captivating four-concert chamber music series as part of the Dunedin Arts Festival and continue through popular initiatives such as our Simply the Best concert in November as well as the community Play with the Orchestra Workshop, an Oboe Workshop, and DSO Academy, as well as the upcoming inspiring Schools Tour.

Collaborating with renowned New Zealand composer Dame Gillian Whitehead, who is celebrated as one of Dunedin’s international treasures, we presented her brilliantly crafted composition The Journey of Mataatua Whare: The House That Came Home. Commissioned by and written in collaboration with Tessa Petersen, the moving composition resonated deeply with our Town Hall audience.

“It was wonderful to have the support of the DSO for ‘The Journey of Mataatua Whare’ in June, a century after the wharenui’s arrival back in Aotearoa. It was all about collaboration - particularly with Tessa Petersen, who initiated and directed, Ngāti Awa, who own the story, Kai Tahu, who surrounded the house with aroha, and Hamilton’s Opus orchestra who took the work to Whakatāne where the story begins and ends. The dedication of the conductors, choir and soloists throughout was remarkable and the reception by the audiences was overwhelming. Thank you so much DSO.”

Dame Gillian Whitehead - Photo credit: Gareth Watkins

"Congratulations and many thanks for another outstanding concert ...Excellent programme, amazing artists and brilliant performance. It made me ... proud of local talent and especially proud of the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.”

Sarah - audience member of our The Journey of Mataatua Whare concert

“I attended the Concert (Clerici Conducts Tchaikovsky). It was a privilege to hear such wonderful music performed by a special Orchestra and Conductor. Thank you so much for organising a memorable evening.”

Our second world première this rising tide, these former wetlands, was composed by former DSO musician who is now living in the Big Apple, Nathaniel Otley, a talent nurtured right here in our community. Within our season’s concerts, we also featured locally grown and internationally recognised artists committed to returning to Dunedin to perform with the DSO, just for you.

You applauded the stunning singing of Anna Leese in Anna Leese, Gloria and the Organ Symphony, the electrifying virtuosity of Amalia Hall in Amalia Plays Piazzolla and, in The Journey of Mataatua Whare concert, the rich, expressive performances of Rebecca Ryan, rising NZ baritone Tomairangi Henare, and Paul Whelan (who flew in from New York especially for the occasion).

In August, Anna Leese was quoted in the ODT “I would never turn down a gig from the DSO”. She said that the audiences in Dunedin were special and it felt as if they knew her better than anyone.

Capacity houses for our Forsyth Barr Matinee Series are a testament to your incredible support for the DSO, and by the end of this year we expect around 12,500 will have experienced our performances - a high level of community engagement.

Audience Feedback

“Brilliant Umberto Clerici conducting Tchaikovsky on Saturday evening with the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra - Absolutely BRILLIANT.”

DCC Councillor

“The [ABBA] vocalists, the conductor, the arrangements, the orchestra were a perfect blend and produced one of the most outstanding performances I have ever been to. I’ve been to many DSO concerts over the past few years and I've never been disappointed. You all do an amazing job and I feel lucky to have such a brilliant orchestra based in my city.”

“Thank YOU so very much for Saturday’s performance telling the story of Mataatua. It moved me to tears. And of course the Brahms Piano Concerto was sublime as well.”

Connecting to the Community

The orchestra is pivotal to Dunedin music education: it is tightly interwoven with local schools, the University of Otago and broader arts initiatives that promote community wellbeing.

1/3 of all music teachers in Dunedin perform with the DSO

Our community development programmes continue to thrive with 42 young musicians enrolled in the 2025 DSO Academy and keen to extend their skills and connections with the orchestra. Meanwhile our DSO Schools Tour in November will introduce orchestral performance and instruments to school students from Dunedin and surrounds extending into Central Otago – for many, their first orchestral music experience. Back in Dunedin, Robert Orr (NZSO Principal Oboe and soloist in DSO’s Sublime Schubert concert) led an inspiring Oboe Workshop, motivating and mentoring community players as part of our commitment to local community talent.

One of the oboe workshop participants commented afterwards:
“I loved playing in the oboe workshop... I felt like a real musician.”

Play with the Orchestra Workshop was a smashing success as 24 community players rehearsed the first movement and dramatic finale of Saint-Saëns ‘Organ Symphony, under the masterful baton of James Judd.

“I was so proud to play in DSO Academy!!! I loved this experience, meeting other players and playing cool music! We had lots of fun.”

DSO Academy Player

“My son has benefited greatly by playing in DSO Academy - Playing has always been important to him, and he feels very honoured to be a member of the DSO Academy! He has grown a lot in his ability from this orchestra. Thank you so much for making this possible!”

DSO Academy Parent

Connected to the DSO Academy‘s success has been the generosity and loyalty of DSO Academy Patrons and Platinum Donors, Carol and Trevor Kempton. Their direct support has ensured the ongoing musical development of our DSO Academy players, growing their passion for music and the DSO into the future.

"We are delighted to support the DSO Academy programme because it recognises the need to develop young instrumentalists within our community and foster their interest in the symphony orchestra, and all that it represents, from an early age. A symphony orchestra should be part of the infrastructure of any civilised city, but building blocks such as the Academy are needed to support their sustainability. Two of our children launched careers in music through their association with the City's choirs and orchestras. We want that for successive generations too.”

Carol and Trevor Kempton

There are many threads to the orchestra’s activities: from the dedication of our musicians in rehearsal and on-stage, to the joy of audiences in the concert hall, from the committed work of staff and volunteers, to the steadfast support of funders, and the spark of discovery in young people through our education programmes – every thread helps weave a rich tapestry in which we are all connecting through music.

Your donation helps the DSO, your orchestra, to stay strong and vibrant while connecting our community through music.

Warmest regards,

Diana Hudson

Chairperson, DSO

P.S. Thanks to your generosity, last year’s appeal raised $16,000 – this year our goal is $20,000. Your donations, no matter the size, ensure the orchestra remains a vibrant part of our community. Please donate today – because when we connect through music, we create something rather special together.

Another way to donate is via direct credit to the DSO's bank account 06-0901-0016368-00 using your Name and APPEAL as the reference (send your email address to office@dso.org.nz so we can send you a receipt), or phone the DSO office to discuss payment options: (03) 477 5623

You can also support our appeal by joining the DSO Virtual Café by setting up a regular automatic donation for as little as $6.

The DSO is a registered Charity: CC 34031. All donations $5 and over are tax deductible and acknowledged with a receipt.

The DSO acknowledges our Core Funders with thanks.