The orchestra has been founded in 1988 by renowned musician and conductor V. Dubrovsky. While being under his direction the group very quickly has gained authority not only in Smolensk, but also over the whole Smolensk region. Audiences of Moscow (the House of Unions and the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall), St. Petersburg (the Shostakovich Great Philarmony Hall), Minsk applauded to the skill of the orchestra. Citizens of various cities of the central Russia, Byelorussian Republic, Ukraine, Lithuania listened to it. Many renowned performers appeared with the orchestra: I. Arkhipova, A Eisen, A. Vedernikov and others.

The Smolensk Russian Folk Orchestra (SRFO) enters the top five folk orchestras of Russia. After the death of V. Dubrovsky in 1994 the orchestra has been named after him.

On the basis of the Dubrovsky SRFO the Russiawide contest “the Voices of Russia” was held twice. The orchestra is a participant of festivals in Moscow Kaliningrad, Minsk, Tver, Gomel and, of course, annual Glinka festivals taking place in Smolensk. Orchestra's performances always get a high credit from the media.

In 2000 the Dubrovsky orchestra has been headed by young talented conductor, award-winner of the international contest I. Gromov. Going on the creative tendencies laid by the founder of the orchestra I. Gromov significantly expands the orchestra's repertoire, enriching it with new, various works, demanding the performer's skill increase, co-operates with many famous composers, vocalists and instrumentalists. The award-winner of the Russiawide contest “the Tenors of Russia” Anatoly Smirnov appears very often and willingly with the orchestra.