Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra

The Indianapolis Chamber Orchestra began life in the cloister garden of Trinity Episcopal Church, and its first name, Musicians of the Cloister, reflected that. Musicologist David Urness founded the group, which later adopted its present title in 1987. Today the nonprofit chamber orchestra is headquartered at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana, and Urness built it on the model of the Academy of St Martin in the Fields.

The orchestra was incorporated in 1985 and in 2004 merged with the Indianapolis Youth Wind Ensemble as part of an ongoing outreach programme. Its venues have shifted over the years: the 1985 season was staged at Indiana Repertory Theatre, 1986–87 brought performances at the Indianapolis Museum of Art, and in 1988 it moved to Clowes Memorial Hall at Butler. Kirk Trevor, who joined as music director in 1988, retired at the close of 2014–15, and in July 2015 Matthew Kraemer was named music director and principal conductor. The group now performs at the Howard L. Schrott Center for the Arts, and 2019–2020 marks its 35th season.