American Chamber Orchestra

About Us:

The American Chamber Orchestra is a 65-member ensemble based in Fairfield County, Connecticut. We perform high baroque, classical, and early romantic repertory, and selected modern works, regularly including young professional musicians in our programs as featured soloists.

Founded in 2003 by Music Director Christopher James Hisey and a group of dedicated amateur musicians, we have presented more than 30 very successful concerts in Fairfield, Norwalk, and Bridgeport.

Among the highlights in our brief history: 

June 12, 2004, the orchestra performed the world premiere of 'Symphony - Wind River' by Rex Cadwallader, an Emmy award-winning American composer. 

February 11, 2006, we premiered Ed Thompson's orchestral suite 'Five in Fairfield,' depicting five places in Fairfield County.

In February 2011, the premiere of Concerto for Marimba and Orchestra, a commissioned work by Dr. Rex Cadwallader, was presented and performed by Brett Altman.

In July 2005, the orchestra traveled to Vienna, Salzburg, and Prague, presenting four concerts during the tour.  In July 2007, 83 members, family and friends traveled through Northern Italy, visiting Parma, Padua, Cremona, Lucca, Florence, Ravenna, Venice and Milan and giving four performances with well-attended audiences.  In July 2009, the American Chamber Orchestra traveled the Scottish Highlands giving three wonderful performances including one in a real castle! The group's most recent trip to Spain in July 2012 included sightseeing in Madrid, Toledo, Segovia, Zaragossa and Barcelona including three performances - the last of which was in a 12th century convent!

Members of the American Chamber Orchestra, family and friends have seleced an itinerary that includes Ireland and Southern England for its July 2015 orchestra tour. It is a 10-day trip - Thursday to Saturday and includes 3 performances.  If you're interested in coming along, please email us at the address noted on this site.

The American Chamber Orchestra chooses the finest in orchestral literature to share with our audience. Artists who have appeared with the orchestra include Jenny Lind Award-winning soprano Stephanie Gregory, trumpeter Zebediah Upton, violinists Edita Orlinyte and Jinyeong Jessica Lee, violists Fiona Winnig and Yaroslav Kargin, cellists Rebecca Patterson and Kangho Lee, pianist Assaff Weisman, and organist Ed Thompson.