Devon Philharmonic Orchestra
The South West's most exhilarating sound
Devon Philharmonic Orchestra is one of the South West's leading symphony orchestras. The orchestra gives three major concerts each season, often involving professional soloists and local choirs, and in addition contributes to the musical life of Exeter with events such as chamber concerts and collaborations with other organisations.
The orchestra was founded in 1967 as the Exeter Music Group, and since that time has grown to the full-scale symphony orchestra which exists today. In 2019, the orchestra relaunched as the Devon Philharmonic Orchestra, to reflect its more contemporary style and approach.
DPO is proud to support local charities, and to provide opportunities for younger musicians to join us at open rehearsals. In May 2019, under its previous name, EMG was awarded the Lord Mayor of Exeter's Commendation for its services to charity and the wider community over many years.
MUSIC DIRECTOR: Michael Graham
Michael Graham is a British conductor, organist and singer based in Devon. He was appointed Musical Director of the Devon Philharmonic Orchestra in 2026, having previously served as Assistant Conductor, and is committed to building on the orchestra's long tradition of ambitious repertoire and high-quality music-making while strengthening its place within the cultural life of the South West.
Alongside his work with the orchestra, Michael is Director of Chapel Music at the University of Exeter, where he has developed the University's Chapel Choir into one of its flagship ensembles. Under his direction, the choir has grown into a thriving choral scholarship programme, undertaken concert tours across the UK and Europe, broadcast on BBC Radio 3, and established an ambitious programme of concerts, recordings and artistic collaborations. He is also Organist and Director of Music at St Michael and All Angels' Church, Heavitree, and works with a number of choirs and musical organisations across the region.
Originally from Liverpool, Michael trained as an organist and singer before developing a particular passion for orchestral conducting. He received his earliest conducting tuition from Dane Lam at the Junior Royal Northern College of Music and continues to develop his conducting through regular professional study. Alongside his performing work, he is an active advocate for musical education, heritage and community engagement, serving as a trustee of several regional arts organisations and leading projects that seek to strengthen the musical life of Devon for future generations.
LEADER: Colin Albery
Colin Albery enjoyed learning the violin, piano and organ at school in Reading and led the town and county youth orchestras whilst also studying as an exhibitioner at the Royal Academy of Music In London. He decided to study academic music at Exeter in the early 1980s and was fully involved in the musical life of the university, leading the symphony and chamber orchestras, whilst also indulging in his passion for rock and jazz as a keyboard player in various groups.
After finishing his degree he went into teaching, and after a year at St Luke’s, headed to Blundell’s School in Tiverton as Head of Strings, which also included teaching violin at Exeter Cathedral School. He continued to enjoy music making in Exeter with various ensembles including The South West Mozart Players, Exeter Music Group and numerous choral society orchestras. Jazz was also in the mix as keyboard player in AJ’s Big Band and similar bands.
After seven years in Tiverton, he moved north to Taunton as Head of Instrumental Music at King’s College, where he remained for over thirty years. He became Director of Music there, and enjoyed the varied life as a member of staff in a boarding school; rugby refereeing, hockey umpiring, and of course allthe music from Chapel choir services to rock concerts, musicals to chamber music, recording studio engineering to instrument maintenance, and everything in between.
Whilst at King’s his Chapel choir won ‘Songs of Praise, choir of the year’, appearing on TV and Radio, and he conducted the mass choirs of the Woodard Corporation at Westminster Abbey, and a big band on stage at Birmingham Symphony Hall.
He constantly pushed for music to be as important as everything else, and was appointed Deputy Head co-curricular to enable both musicians and others to have as wide an experience as possible.
He retired from teaching in 2021, moved to Teignmouth, and has loved returning to orchestral playing in Exeter and being in the centre of such an amazing sound.