»Good will moves mountains. Enclosed is the rehearsal schedule for the new year.«
Peter Lücker, founder and first conductor of the Instrumental Group at the company, 1966

The company ensemble, named after the Merck family, is one of the most highly acclaimed independent orchestras in the German music scene. The ensemble consists of up to 100 professional musicians and whose repertoire includes all styles: from Baroque and classical to romantic, jazz and film music.

The ensemble is founded in 1966 by a small group of music-loving employees as the »Instrumental Group«. In the very same year the group gives its first public performance, about which the employee newspaper writes: »With Peter Lücker, this orchestra has an understanding, prudent and responsible conductor. After almost one year of rehearsals, this ensemble of 19 members finally presented itself this evening to the public by performing Christmas music. The performance begins with an orchestral suite in G major by Georg Philipp Telemann. The work was carefully rehearsed [...]. All in all […], a pleasant musical experience.«

Over the years, the site orchestra develops into a chamber orchestra, a chamber philharmonic orchestra and finally a philharmonic orchestra, which has been known as the name today since 2016. The name changes are made in response to an expansion of the repertoire and increasing professionalization. Initially, the orchestra comprises employees who make music in their free time, but soon key positions are filled by professional musicians, which means that the musical quality increases rapidly.

Above all in the 1970s and early 1980s, the orchestra gives concerts at the Darmstadt site; tickets for these site concerts are free of charge for employees and their families. The first concert at the Gernsheim site takes place in 1998 on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the site.

Concert series such as »The Magic of Movies« and the garden concerts, which were already launched in 1988, are especially popular. The orchestra organizes special projects for children and young people such as cushion concerts and orchestra workshops, with the aim of sparking children’s interest in classical music and enabling young people to gather first experiences in playing orchestra music. Every year, more than 25,000 people attend concerts by the ensemble. The former »Instrumental Group« is now an integral part of cultural life in Darmstadt and the region – and the company’s musical ambassador worldwide.

Back in the 1930s, an »Orchestra of Salaried Employees and Workers of the E. Merck Company, Darmstadt« exists for a short time. The employee ensemble known as the company »Turmbläser« has been playing Christmas carols in Darmstadt every year since 1957 shortly before Christmas Eve – initially from a balcony of the Pützer Tower.

After running an advertisement entitled »Good musicians wanted« in the employee newspaper and first rehearsals, the musicians give their first concert in 1966: »Christmas music of great composers«. 1969 the first long-playing record is released. With the CD »Slavic Romanticism«, released in 1989, the series »Darmstadt Music Edition Merck« begins.

In 1970, the chamber orchestra travels to Austria and gives its first concert abroad. Performances in almost all European and many non-European countries follow, for example in 2011 at the »Year of Germany in India«. Charity concerts like the New Year’s concerts at the Wiesbaden Kurhaus raise money for social projects.