Our orchestra and the support from our fans have grown immensely over our 15-year history. What began as a small group with a bold idea has flourished, driven by passionate volunteers, our talented artistic director, an extraordinary community of musicians, and the unwavering support of the Durham and Duke communities.

From the very beginning, Dr. Victor Dzau – then Chancellor of Duke Health – was there, helping the orchestra get off the ground, shaping its mission, and lending his guidance and enthusiasm when the idea of a Durham Medical Orchestra was still just a dream. His early belief in the profound connection between music and medicine, and in the ability of both to heal and bring people together, laid the foundation on which today’s orchestra proudly stands. – Michael Dzuricky, Chair and Executive Director of the DMO Foundation

This vision, passion, and leadership have been sustained by the remarkable talent of our musicians and the ongoing support of the Durham and Duke communities, who together have made the DMO a powerful example of how music and medicine can work in harmony to serve others. This same spirit has been championed by Victor and Ruth Dzau, and we are honored to announce that they have pledged $125,000 to support this orchestra in becoming a permanent fixture of the community and to provide us with an extraordinary platform for stability.

In honor of their support, the conductor position of the Durham Medical Orchestra will henceforth be known as “The Victor and Ruth Dzau Artistic Director.” We are so grateful to the Dzau family for this incredible gift, for being with us from the very beginning, and for their continued belief in the unique bond between music and medicine that defines this orchestra.

DMO violinist Jinky Ang Rosselli, Victor and Ruth Dzau, and the Victor and Ruth Dzau Artistic Director and Conductor Verena Mösenbichler-Bryant celebrate backstage after the Dzaus’ gift was announced.

We look forward to sharing more soon about how the DMO will leverage the Dzau family’s generous gift to further invest in and strengthen this community. Thank you to all of you who have been champions of the DMO and who play such an important role in our story. We are grateful for your support, your enthusiasm, and your presence at our concerts.