DCOA has three main objectives. The first is to offer the Indian Wells Valley (IWV) community a choice in music performance. Our orchestra is composed of unpaid musicians of all ages. We offer the opportunity for musicians to play in a symphonic orchestra led by a conductor. Our second objective is to give youth the experience to play in a symphonic orchestra. Our Young Artist concert affords young artists the opportunity by a competition to perform a movement from a concerto with the orchestra. The third objective is to give music scholarships through a competition. A panel of judges composed of local musicians, screens applicants ranking them for our committee which chooses one or more recipients of music scholarships which may be spent in any way to further their musical education.