History and Mission

Mission Statement

Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra enriches the cultural life of the Central Coast, performing music that is adventurous, challenging and unique.

Our History

Ensemble Monterey was founded in 1992 as a consortium of professional musicians on the Central Coast. Its goal has been to present outstanding works for chamber ensembles of 8 to 25 musicians, works that are seldom performed because of the number of players required, or because they are unusual and outside the repertoire of pieces most often performed by classical orchestras.

EMCO provides an avenue of creative expression for local professional musicians and composers and provides stimulating and exciting educational experiences for audience members of all ages and backgrounds. In addition, we add to the repertoire of classical music by commissioning new works such as 2017’s “Sunset in My Hand”  by  Ēriks Ešenvalds and 2024’s “Pastures of Heaven” by local composer John Wineglass.

DEI Statement

At Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra, we believe that classical music is for everyone. Since our founding as a consortium of local professional musicians in 1992, this has remained our core belief.

We are committed to providing challenging and enriching opportunities for local musicians, composers, and audiences from all backgrounds across the Central Coast. As part of this mission, we actively support young performers from underserved areas, ensuring they have access to both performance opportunities and the chance to experience live classical music.

Through our music, we strive to break down barriers and create a more inclusive, dynamic, and diverse classical music community.

Action Plan

Ensemble Monterey Chamber Orchestra strengthens the cultural fabric of the Central Coast by providing and encouraging an avenue of creative expression for professional musicians and composers who are residents of the community. Our student musician outreach provides valuable and unique performance opportunities for their generation.   Ensemble Monterey provides welcoming access and exciting educational experiences to those audience members who might not otherwise consider classical music a relevant or available part of their lives.