Durham University Orchestral Society is made up of two orchestras: the Symphony Orchestra and the Chamber Orchestra. Each rehearse once per week and perform around two concerts per term, some with each other, others with various music societies within the university. Last year saw some incredible performances take place at Durham Cathedral and the Sage, Gateshead, with repertoire including Stravinsky's Firebird Suite (1919), Beethoven's 8th Symphony, and a world premier performance of Palazzo's Faultlines (with Sir Thomas Allen).

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Rehearsals and concerts only make up part of your time as there is also a vibrant social side: we run regular socials, host parties, and put on events like our annual black-tie ball.

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We pride ourself on being entirely student-led. This means all of our Executive Committee and Conductors are students at the university. That said, we regularly welcome professionals from institutions such as the Northern Sinfonia and the RNCM who hold masterclasses and sectionals, notably during our week-long course at the end of Easter term known as 'DUOS Week.' We also benefit from regular masterclasses with professional conductors such as Peter Stark and Jac Van Steen.

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In addition to all this, each Easter break we go on tour to Europe and in the past have visited Madrid, Berlin, Prague, Vienna, Budapest, Ljubljana, Barcelona, and most recently, Munich.