A group of music students founded the orchestra in 1980 in Frankfurt, initially as an ensemble which the musicians own solely and without a conductor.

They have worked with researchers at the University of Saarbrücken to develop a management tool, the "5 Seconds Model".

Notable early concerts included a 1983 appearance at the United Nations and performances with Gidon Kremer at the Lockenhaus Festival[1] in 1984 and 1985.

An offshoot group, the Wind Soloists of the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen has been an established ensemble since 1990.

Beginning in 2017 the Deutsche Kammerphilharmonie Bremen is the orchestra-in-redidence at the Kissinger Sommer festival.