The Driftless Urban Orchestra was founded in 2020 by musicians who asked: how can chamber music better reflect our own community?
We started small, doing repertoire readings and partnering with community organizations. We played in community centers and parks, and focused on blending new, vibrant voices alongside established voices in the music world - and using local musicians to do it.
Today, DUO grows stronger and larger each season, performing multiple concerts — all free or sliding scale — and runs educational programs reaching hundreds of students across the Coulee Region every year.
Read about the values that make up our DNA as an organization
The classical music canon doesn't have to choose between tradition and innovation. We actively work to support and expand both
Ticket price should never be a barrier to communities engaging in music performance. DUO works to take music to new locations throughout our community
Accessibility and excellence aren't mutually exclusive. We hold ourselves to the highest musical standards in everything we perform.
Community input shapes our season, our venues, and our commissions. We work to feature local talent from our surrounding communities and are always looking for new community partnerships.
DUO is built with the help of a core of dedicated professional who call the Driftless region home.
.svg){kind=small}