The DCE was started in 1980 as a group of five players and over the years additional players have joined us. We have always rehearsed at the Darlington Arts Centre.

At present the ensemble consists of Eb Clarinet, Bb Clarinets playing in three parts, alto clarinet, basset horn, bass clarinet and contrabass clarinet.

In the 1980’s the acquisition of alto and contrabass clarinets enabled us to start to play the standard clarinet choir repertoire. Eventually having exhausted the limited printed music for clarinet choir a number of the ensemble’s players started to make arrangements and transcriptions for the group. Our library now has over 350 pieces of music.

In 1994 we marked the centenary of the death of Adolphe Sax with a concert featuring the Fishburn Brass Band and the Saxophone Octet “Double Sax”.

In 1998 we gave the first performance of “Songs and Dances 1998 composed for the DCE by Andy Jackson

In November 1999 we gave the first performance of Andy Jackson’s “Calls and Responses”.

In May 2001 we performed in a concert at the British Clarinet Choir Convention at the North Wales Conference Centre.

In 2003 we gave the first UK performance, in the version for clarinet ensemble, of “Where Spirits and Demons Dance” by Nigel Wood.

In 2004 we shared a concert with Argentinean clarinettist Sergio Fiorito.

In 2005 we celebrated Mike Frankton, one of our founder members, 80th birthday with a celebrity concert featuring not only the DCE but also the British Clarinet Ensemble and the Tribune Saxophone Octet.

In November 2005 we visited the Sage, Gateshead to play in the concourse as part of a woodwind day.

In 2007 we gave the first performance of Andy Jackson’s “Mediation on Breath” commissioned by the DCE and in the same concert we gave the first performance of Jim Parker’s Clarinet Concert in the version arranged by John MacKenzie for Clarinet and Single reed orchestra.


The DCE is a member of British Association of Symphonic Bands and Wind Ensembles, the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain, Platform and Making Music.