History of ECCO

The Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra began in 1998 and was incorporated in 1999. At the start the orchestra was as an all volunteer group that included several university music faculty who wanted the opportunity to perform with other talented musicians and to make their performances available to the community. After a few seasons the orchestra was able to offer modest pay for the musicians although given the level of pay, it is clear the musicians were and are doing this out of love of performing. Typically ECCO has performed four or five concerts each season at its home venue, Grace Lutheran Church in Eau Claire. For the current performance season ECCO is doing six performances as well as a free family concert and a repeat performance in Ashland of its sixth concert. The Grace Lutheran Church has been a beautiful setting for the Orchestra as it has wonderful accoustics and offers the audience proximity to the Orchestra which is certainly in keeping with the chamber orchestra tradition.

For the past eight seasons, ECCO has presented a free family concert which affords families an opportunity to hear classical music regardless of economic level. ECCO has been dedicated to this community outreach and has had the financial support of several individual donors as well as corporate sponsorships to keep this free family concert going in the community.