Salem Chamber Orchestra (SCO) is the Mid-Willamette Valley’s resident professional orchestra, presenting
outstanding performances and educational programs, including orchestral concerts, a chamber music series, and a youth concerto competition. Founded in 1984 by Willamette University Professor Bruce McIntosh, SCO’s charter mission was to provide an orchestral experience for Willamette students, area professionals, and amateur musicians. Dr. Hekun Wu became music director in 2005 followed by the appointment of the organization’s first full-time professional executive director in 2006. In fall 2008, SCO implemented an innovative artistic model involving a musician-led collaborative planning structure and a roster of conductors.

Now in its 26th season, the orchestra maintains its roots as a merger between professional and pedagogical models, with a core group of roughly equal numbers of faculty, student, and regional musicians. The orchestra continues its fruitful operating association with Willamette University and often collaborates with other area arts organizations such as Willamette Master Chorus and Salem Youth Symphony. Dramatic development of the orchestra’s artistic quality and expansion of its educational programming over the last five years have resulted in increased concert attendance and individual and corporate giving. SCO serves approximately 4,750 patrons each year.

Diversity Statement

The Salem Chamber Orchestra, a non-profit arts organization, believes that diversity among our musicians, employees, volunteers, and board members contributes to a musical presence in the Salem community that is engaging, meaningful, and welcoming to a variety of audiences and demographics. The Salem Chamber Orchestra is committed to the idea that music provides one of the greatest opportunities for dialogue and collaboration among people of all ages, genders, races, nationalities, religions, disabilities, sexual orientations, education, cultures, and other human differences.