The Old Post Road Orchestra had its beginnings in the spring of 1986. While serving as pianist and vocal coach for a musical production at Wilbraham-Monson Academy, Malita Brown was concerned for a number of students who had dropped their musical interests after enrolling in the academy. She decided to start an orchestra for academy students and sought adult players from the community to fill out the ranks.

The first rehearsal was April 4, 1986 at Chamberlain Hall on Academy property. Ray Drury, from East Longmeadow, served as conductor. In July, the orchestra moved rehearsals to the United Church of Wilbraham, then to the Wilbraham Middle School and finally to the Stony Hill School in Wilbraham, where the orchestra currently holds rehearsals.

After the first concert in November of 1986 at the Monson Town Hall, Paul Coffil, a teacher and saxophonist in Springfield, became the group's second conductor and directed the second concert program given at Palmer High School in May of 1987. That summer the group's name was officially changed to the Old Post Road Orchestra to better represent the four communities which were supporting the orchestra.

Subsequent concert seasons have seen programs presented in many local communities, including Ludlow, Monson, Palmer, Wilbraham, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow and West Springfield. Under Mr. Coffil's direction, the ensemble's membership grew past 45, and performances greatly improved.

During the 1996-1997 season, the orchestra selected Neal Schermerhorn as the new conductor. Schermerhorn has served as conductor since September 1997, and the orchestra has enjoyed continued growth as a musical ensemble and as an organization. Under Mr. Schermerhorn's leadership, the OPRO began offering annual concerts geared toward young people and their families that have included activities for children, including musical instrument "petting zoos". In 2001 the orchestra became a non-profit corporation.

The Old Post Road Orchestra remains a volunteer community orchestra that welcomes players on all instruments. Rehearsal time is Wednesday evenings at 7:30 p.m. at the Stony Hill School, 675 Stony Hill Road, Wilbraham, MA. For further information, please contact Malita Brown at (413) 596-9075 or Ed Mosio at (413) 783-6311.