2025 Was A Year of Music, Community and Connection for the DSO

There are moments in a concert hall when something extraordinary happens.

The orchestra plays the final note, the audience rises to its feet, and for a few seconds everyone in the room feels connected through music.

For us, 2025 was filled with moments like these.

From standing ovations at world première performances to school children discovering orchestral instruments for the very first time, the year reflected the growing role the DSO continues to play in the cultural life of Dunedin and the wider Otago region.

One audience member perhaps captured it best after a concert this year:

“The concert made me proud to be kiwi, proud of local talent — and especially proud of Dunedin Symphony Orchestra.”

That sense of pride, connection and shared experience sits at the heart of what the DSO continues to build.

In 2025, more than 13,600 people attended or participated in DSO concerts, education programmes, workshops and community projects across the region.

The orchestra’s season featured internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists, beloved symphonic masterworks, and powerful new New Zealand compositions — including the world première of The Journey of Mataatua Whare, a deeply moving collaboration that brought together music, storytelling and culture in an unforgettable concert experience.

Audience members described performances throughout the year as:

“Moving, immersive, uplifting, beautiful and memorable.”

But the story of the DSO extends far beyond the concert stage.

Across Otago and Central Lakes, nearly 4,000 children experienced live orchestral music through the DSO’s Schools Tours programme.

For many students, it was their very first encounter with a live orchestra.

Teachers spoke of students becoming newly inspired to learn music, with one sharing:

“I have had whānau asking if we could find a music teacher.”

The DSO Academy continued to nurture young musicians, while community workshops and masterclasses created opportunities for aspiring players to perform alongside experienced orchestral musicians.

Behind all of this is a growing level of support from audiences, donors, sponsors and the wider community.

An economic impact report commissioned during the year found the DSO contributes approximately $1.1 million annually to the Dunedin economy, while donations increased by 17% compared to the previous year.

As the orchestra now looks ahead to its 60th anniversary in 2026, the DSO continues to grow not only as an orchestra, but as one of Dunedin’s most important cultural organisations — bringing people together through the shared experience of live music.

And in a world that often feels increasingly disconnected, perhaps that has never mattered more.