Annual Appeal 2026 - 'The next 60 years start with you'

Dear Music Supporter

As we come to the close of our 60th anniversary year, we have been reflecting with enormous gratitude on the wonderful community that surrounds and supports the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra (DSO) / Te Tira Pūoro o Ōtepoti. Throughout this very special year, you have been there for us — turning out in such wonderful numbers for our anniversary concerts, taking part in our outreach projects, volunteering your time, making donations, sponsoring and funding the orchestra, and sharing our news with friends and family. Your continued support means more to us than we can say.

As you begin planning for the year ahead, we hope you might consider making a gift to the DSO. Help us raise $60,000 to celebrate our 60th anniversary, and lay the foundations for the future: The next 60 years start with you. Thank you for being such an important part of the DSO family, and we look forward to welcoming you to our 2027 concerts.

With grateful thanks

James Judd reflects on his three years as Principal Guest Conductor

The last three years with the DSO have been richly fulfilling for so many reasons: Working together with Concertmaster Tessa Petersen and the devoted musicians, hearing enthusiastically from our distinguished guest artists of the pleasure they experience and, most importantly for everyone involved, sharing our love of music with a loyal, unique audience.

“The DSO works so well because of a special bond between the musicians, the music and you, our supporters. The success is all the more remarkable when you realise what work goes on backstage with such a dedicated small staff of 3.5 fte operating on a shoe-string budget.

“Please join us in keeping this culture alive and growing for future generations by helping us bring new friends to our concerts and by kindly considering a donation. It is more important than ever that we all do our best to secure our future.”

Pat Dean hits the half century of playing with the DSO

Over 51 years, DSO’s Principal Double Bass Pat Dean has played in an estimated 465 DSO concerts, to audiences from Dunedin to Invercargill, Queenstown, Christchurch, and even Japan. Of these experiences, Pat says:

“Playing in the DSO has given me a wonderful opportunity to share with audiences treasures from more than five centuries of musical expression of human experience and aspiration.

“From all the hundreds of concerts, inspiring conductors and superb soloists, it is impossible to choose one single highlight. However, I have special memories of collaborating with City Choir Dunedin and soloists to tell some of our own stories, such as Anthony Ritchie’s ‘From Gallipoli to The Somme’ and Dame Gillian Whitehead’s story of ‘The Journey of Mataatua Whare’.

“The spirit of DSO is one of friendly co-operation and enthusiasm. It is a happy balance of learning from more experienced players and encouraging younger ones who are just beginning their musical journey.

“I am looking forward to the DSO having a lively and continuing presence in the cultural life of Dunedin.”

Of Pat’s 51 years in the DSO, David Burchell (Music Director, City Choir Dunedin) comments:

“I have been conducting the orchestra in concerts with City Choir Dunedin for almost 27 years, and throughout this time Pat has been a regular fixture on the right-hand side of the stage, peering over her music from behind her imposing double bass. Ever dependable and well-prepared, she is always enthusiastic about the music and has been greatly supportive of the choir’s musical adventures, despite the physical endurance test which epic choral works such as Handel’s ‘Messiah’ present to bass players!”

The DSO 60th Gala Concert with Jonathan Lemalu

Before arriving back in Dunedin for our recent 60th Gala, Jonathan Lemalu was clearly delighted to be taking part.

I’m looking forward to celebrating with this extraordinary orchestra, its players, management, and its fiercely proud and loyal audience in the country’s finest town hall acoustic. Happy birthday to you, DSO!”

Your DSO makes a difference

The DSO is much more than the concerts you see on stage.

During 2026:

21,400 people experienced a DSO concert or education project
38% of those are young people
$1.15 million is DSO’s estimated economic contribution to Dunedin

DSO's impact reaches well beyond our own performances. Our musicians are teachers, mentors, composers and community musicians, sharing their expertise and passion for music with people of all ages across Dunedin and beyond.

Each year, DSO musicians:

teach more than 800 music and instrument students every week
work with the c. 50 young musicians in the DSO Academy
perform to 2,250 Dunedin primary and intermediate school students
mentor and play alongside c. 30 community musicians in our Play with the Orchestra
provide masterclasses and professional development such as the 2026 Flute Masterclass with Bridget Douglas
support emerging composers and musicians through a Composers’ Workshop in collaboration with the University of Otago

“DSO Academy gave me the chance to meet other musicians, a greater appreciation of music, and the encouragement to seek other opportunities to play.” (DSO Academy player)

“Thank you, thank you, thank you. DSO Academy is a fabulous stepping stone and experience for young Dunedin musicians.” (DSO Academy parent)

The DSO also contributes to Dunedin's wider musical community. 74% of DSO players have moved to or returned to Dunedin, with 62% saying the DSO was significant in attracting them here. Many are also involved in other music and community organisations.

The DSO is a catalyst, a multiplier and an enabler for a huge amount of creative activity within Dunedin and beyond.

Discover the research, stories and findings behind these figures.

Read the full 2026 Community Impact Report

Your support makes a difference

You can be confident that your gift will be put to very good use, helping us build on the remarkable legacy of the past 60 years as we look forward to the next 60.

What could your donation support?

Every donation, whatever the size, makes an impact.

60 years of music-making

Our 60th anniversary year has shown once again what the DSO and its community can achieve together.

Mahler's Resurrection, performed with the NZSO and City Choir Dunedin under James Judd, brought together more than 1,500 people in a capacity Town Hall audience.

The DSO also celebrated the University of Otago School of Music's centenary with Beethoven's Triple Concerto, featuring Terence Dennis, Tessa Petersen and Heleen du Plessis.

Our 60th Gala brought Jonathan Lemalu and Michael Houstoun to a capacity Town Hall audience with the orchestra conducted by James Judd.

And throughout the year, the DSO continued to share music in many different ways — from Kiri and Lou for young audiences to Bach's Mass in B Minor with City Choir Dunedin, and Synthony at Rhythm and Alps.

‘This orchestra is the jewel in Dunedin’s musical landscape, a shining beacon of high-class musicians and musicianship, and of nurturing and nourishing its musicians and its audiences in a wonderfully varied breadth of repertoire’ — Jonathan Lemalu

Help us reach $60,000

As we celebrate 60 years of the DSO, we are aiming to raise $60,000 to help secure the future of orchestral music in Dunedin.
The next 60 years start with you. Please make a donation today and help us continue bringing great music, education and opportunities to our community.

Join our Virtual Café

Every month you can contribute your chosen amount (such as the price of a cup of coffee) by setting up an automatic payment with your bank to go to the orchestra’s bank account Dunedin Civic Orchestra Inc. 06-0901-0016368-00 and please use reference Virtual Café. Then please email your contact details to office@dso.org.nz to receive a donation receipt at the end of the financial year.

A Legacy that will keep Dunedin and Otago musical performance thriving

A gift in your will to the Foundation for the Dunedin Symphony Orchestra will ensure that future generations of music lovers and musicians continue to experience the power of live performance. For more information, click here or phone 03 477 5623 or email foundation@dso.org.nz

Donate Now
Please donate this year so orchestral music performance can continue to thrive in Dunedin. We are aiming for $60,000 on our 60th! Help us reach that target.

There are two ways to donate to our 60th anniversary Appeal:

1. On the DSO Website: Click the Donate button below online to donate by credit card.

2. Direct Credit to our account: Via internet banking, direct credit your donation to Dunedin Civic Orchestra Inc. 06-0901-0016368-00 with your name and APPEAL as reference and email your contact details to office@dso.org.nz so that we can send you a donation receipt for income tax purposes.

The orchestra is a registered charity: Dunedin Civic Orchestra CC 3403