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Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra

The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra (GCO) was founded in 1997 by Norman and Carolyn Nunamaker and presented its’ first concert in May of 1998. Since that time it has achieved an amazing degree of success among audiences and musicians alike.

The ensemble is fully professional, consisting of members from the Gettysburg area as well as from Harrisburg, Washington, Baltimore and York.

From the very beginning it was decided that the GCO was to be a community orchestra utilizing as many local musicians as possible as members and as soloists. More than half of the regular members of the orchestra reside in Adams County.

The list of soloists is truly impressive and includes pianist Michael Matsinko, baritone Wayne Hill, soprano Melinda Warren, organist Stephen Folkemer, bassist Duane Botterbusch, and flutist Karen Botterbusch. Many graduates of local High Schools have gone on to become professional musicians and have returned to perform, including cellist Chris Rex, Principal Cello with the Atlanta Symphony, violist Mary Hammann with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra, bassoonist Phoebe Ray, member of the Long Beach (CA) Symphony, and vocalists Meredith Megles who is a member of the Northern Virginia Opera and Peter Couchman, with the New York City Opera.

Norman Nunamaker, Professor Emeritus of Gettysburg College and Director of the local orchestra, was a member of the Music Department for over 30 years and continues to be an active violinist in the York Symphony and other local musical groups. He is also conductor of the Festival Chamber Orchestra of Shippensburg. His wife, Carolyn, was the Principal of the Gettysburg Area Middle School for eleven years and is active in many church activities in addition to her work with the GCO as Business Manager.

The Gettysburg Chamber Orchestra works under the aegis of Music, Gettysburg!, an organization associated with the Lutheran Theological Seminary at Gettysburg. This organization, founded by seminary professor Gerald Christianson in 1980, presents a musical series of more than 15 concerts every year. Its’ current Director is Mark Oldenburg, Chaplain of the Seminary.