WHO WE ARE

Duluth is a city that shows up for live music. From professional orchestras to small chamber groups and everything in between, our community has built a remarkable musical ecosystem — because the people here don’t just want to listen to music, they want to be a part of it. The Duluth Civic Orchestra is proud to be one of those parts.

The Duluth Civic Orchestra is a community orchestra open to musicians of all ages and backgrounds. Our 50-plus members range from high schoolers looking for more time on their instrument to retirees picking one up for the first time — and everyone in between. We’ve been bringing people together through music since the 1980s, and we’re just as passionate about it today as we were then. Since the 1980s, we have been a part of Duluth Community Education through Duluth’s public schools. This partnership allows us to practice and perform at Lincoln Park Middle School.

Under the direction of Brandon J. Smith, our rehearsals are welcoming, focused, and genuinely fun — an environment where musicians can challenge themselves, enjoy the process, and feel proud of what they create together.

We believe live orchestral music should be accessible and meaningful to everyone. We perform free public concerts throughout the year — from classical repertoire to thoughtfully themed programs that surprise and move our audiences. We love bringing our audience into the music too, sharing the stories and history behind each piece so that everyone in the room, on stage or off, feels connected to what they’re hearing. After each performance, we invite the community to linger, meet the musicians, and celebrate together over homemade treats — because the connections we make are just as meaningful as the music we play.