About us

Our story

Artistry. Wellness. Passion. Community. These values unite the members of the Durham Medical Orchestra, which draws together health-related professionals, medical and graduate students of the life sciences, and community members in Durham, North Carolina. Under the leadership of Conductor and Artistic Director Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant, our performances raise money for local health-related organizations and offer the benefits of music to wide audiences around the Triangle.

Founded in 2010, the orchestra was inspired by two similar organizations—the Life Sciences Orchestra at the University of Michigan and the Longwood Symphony Orchestra in Boston. We perform major compositions from the classical literature as well as contemporary and newly commissioned works. Our concerts frequently include collaborations with community organizations, visual artists, health leaders, local schools, churches, and professional musicians.

Our Mission

The Durham Medical Orchestra, through its affiliation with the Vice Provost for the Arts at Duke, connects volunteer musicians from the health professions and the community to promote wellness, provide cultural enrichment, and deliver the benefits of music to all through engaging performances and collaborative partnerships.

Meet our leaders

The DMO is led by Artistic Director and Conductor Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant and an all-volunteer executive committee composed of orchestra members.

About our leaders

Our Projects

Through our performances, we raise money for local health-related organizations and offer the benefits of music to wide audiences around the Triangle. Here are a few of our recent projects.

the magic of music

A children’s concert full of magic introduced young people to the wonder of music. The free event at Durham’s Grey Stone Church featured a live magician and an instrument petting zoo. Sponsors included WCPE The Classical Station Education Fund, the Durham Medical Orchestra Foundation, Grey Stone Church of Durham, and the Durham Merchants Association Foundation.

fundraiser for senior pharmassist

Our 2018/19 community partner was Senior PharmAssist, which promotes healthier living for Durham seniors by helping them obtain and better manage needed medications, and by providing health education, Medicare insurance counseling, community referral and advocacy. Donations collected at our December 2018 concert were split between the DMO and SeniorPharmAssist.

Collaboration with the Durham Choral Society

With the Duke Chorale and the Choral Society of Durham, the DMO presented Philip Glass’ “Itaipú” and Eric Whitacre’s “Deep Field.” “Itaipú” sets the text of the creation myth of the Guaraní, an indigenous group of Paraguay and Brazil. “Deep Field,” inspired by images from the Hubble telescope, features a smart-phone app used by the audience as part of the performance.

Guest artists and composers

Our concerts frequently feature newly commissioned works and performances by guest artists. A sampling of recent featured artists and composers: saxophonists Branford Marsalis and Susan Fancher; bassoonist Ivy Ringel; composers Steven Bryant, Alejandro Santoyo, and Dayton Kinney; and children’s book author Johanna Wright.

About the DMO Foundation

The mission of the Durham Medical Orchestra Foundation is to promote music as a healing art and to support musical activities for and by health professionals, their family members, and affiliated persons in Durham, North Carolina and in nearby communities.

Learn more