‘The KCO was formed in 1986, as a chamber orchestra responding to the need for the performance of classical music in Kingston upon Thames and the wider district, and a near professional standard of orchestra to attract serious instrumentalists who wish to perform on a regular basis ... Since its formation the KCO has played a wide range of orchestral music, from baroque and classical, through the Romantic era, to contemporary music from the last century. We aim for a balance between the familiar and the new, and have a long tradition of first performances of music by local composers, often of astonishing inventiveness and musicality ... The Kingston Chamber Orchestra has been the Associate Orchestra of Kingston University since 2013. Rehearsal time is given to perform compositions of members of the music faculty. Members of the University play with the orchestra.‘