Acknowledged as one of the finest orchestras in the world, the Chamber Orchestra of Europe (COE) was founded in 1981 by a group of young musicians graduating from the European Union Youth Orchestra. It was their ambition to continue working together at the highest possible professional level, and of that original group, 18 remain in the current core membership of 50. It is the players’ wealth of cultural backgrounds and shared love of music-making which remain at the heart of their inspired performances. Representing fifteen nationalities living in twelve European countries, the COE mainly performs in continental Europe, regularly visits the USA and occasionally tours in the Far East. From the beginning, the Orchestra has appeared with the world’s leading conductors and soloists. As well as being Leaders and Principals of other major orchestras, the players themselves also pursue parallel careers as international soloists, members of celebrated chamber groups, and as tutors and professors of music. The COE’s philosophy also influences the players’ own work during the rest of the year, notably in a wide range of educational projects in which they are involved.

Important partnerships with some of the most prominent concert halls in Europe such as the Royal Festival Hall in London, the Cité de la Musique in Paris, the Alte Oper in Frankfurt, and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam have all contributed to a full diary for the foreseeable future. The COE is honoured to have a close association with the Gulbenkian Foundation in Lisbon, to appear regularly at the festivals in Lucerne and at Styriarte in Graz, and to have strong links with the concert halls in Baden-Baden, Bonn, Budapest, Brussels, Cologne, Luxembourg, Toulouse, Vienna and many more.

Renowned not only for its remarkable live performances but also for the quality of its recordings, the COE has won many international prizes for its wide repertoire. It is proud of its three Gramophone ‘Record of the Year’ awards, a 2004 Grammy Award, and the MIDEM 2008 ‘Classical Download’ Award.

In 2007, the COE was appointed one of the European Union’s ‘Cultural Ambassadors’, and as a result now benefits from invaluable EU support. Over recent years the Orchestra has also received significant financial support from The Gatsby Charitable Foundation.