The Carolina Philharmonic, formerly known as the West Side Chamber Orchestra, will perform two concerts in Southern Pines in November.

On Saturday, Nov. 7, at 7 p.m., Brownson Memorial Presbyterian Church, 330 S. May St., Southern Pines, presents a free concert of chamber music by Bach, Faur and Schubert.

Then at 7 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14, the orchestra performs a concert at the Weymouth Center for the Arts, 555 E. Connecticut Ave., Southern Pines, featuring Tchaikovsky's "Serenade for Strings," Haydn's "D-major Cello Concerto" and an aria by Donizetti.

Admission to the latter concert is by suggested donation: $25 general and $20 senior/military.

Students are admitted at no charge.

Since the last time the chamber orchestra performed here in February, it has been through both a name change and a debut at Carnegie Hall.

"I was fond of our original name, West Side Chamber Orchestra, especially as I live on Manhattan's West Side," says Maestro David Michael Wolff, "but we all felt that we needed something with a stronger local flavor."

Under the baton of the internationally renowned conductor and concert pianist, the Carolina Philharmonic is establishing itself as the region's premier chamber ensemble. Its players are drawn from the most virtuoso, sought-after musicians in Eastern North Carolina and pride themselves on being equally comfortable in solo, chamber and orchestral repertoire, says Wolff.

"When I first came out to North Carolina to conduct the Fayetteville Symphony in 'Porgy and Bess' almost two years ago, I saw that this region was ripe for a serious chamber ensemble," Wolff says. "So when I was invited back to conduct 'West Side Story,' I decided to form an orchestra, and I'm happy to see how quickly it's taking root!"