For Immediate Release
Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra Presents The Rex Brothers Live on November 16th
ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is excited to bring back FSYO Alumni Charles and Christopher Rex for a very special performance experience. Fifty years ago, Charles Rex (New York Philharmonic – Past Associate Concertmaster, Violin) and Christopher Rex (Atlanta Symphony – Principal Cello) made their Central Florida solo debut, performing the Brahms Double as members of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. This year, in honor of this anniversary, they are returning to their roots to perform the piece that gave them their start.
On how it feels to be returning for this occasion, Charles Rex said, "It is a real thrill to be reliving a time from fifty years ago when Chris and I first played the Brahms Double Concerto with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra... I am delighted to know that the FSYO continues to this day, doing its valuable work of providing musical training for talented young musicians."
The day will begin with a rehearsal of the Brahms piece with the FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra; after which, the Rex Brothers will host a special coaching session for the students on the other concert pieces. Having an opportunity to work with the students, in addition to playing with them, was important to the brothers. When asked why, Charles Rex replied, "the orchestra provided excellent training for my later education in playing in ensembles, but most of all, friendships were formed that have lasted a lifetime... I further know that, as with me, this orchestra will provide its current members with musical and social experiences that they will never forget."
Following the coaching session, FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra will take the stage to accompany the Rex Brothers as they grace Central Florida with their talents and connect with this generation of young musicians. Audience members can join this exciting event by purchasing tickets - $10 for Students/Seniors, $15 for Adults - through the FSYO website (www.fsyo.org). The concert begins at 5 p.m. Sunday, November 16, at Edgewater High School – 3100 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804 in the Performing Arts Center.
ABOUT THE REX BROTHERS: Violinist Charles Rex was born into a musical family in Winter Park, Florida. He started his violin studies at age four under Alphonse Carlo, professor of violin at Rollins. Following his solo debut with the Florida Symphony at age 13, he won the Hinda Honigmann Scholarship Award to the Brevard Music Center in North Carolina and toured as soloist with the BMC Orchestra throughout North and South Carolina. Mr. Rex was awarded a full scholarship to Florida State University (FSU). Immediately after graduating cum laude from FSU with bachelor and master of music degrees in performance, Mr. Rex joined The Philadelphia Orchestra under Eugene Ormandy where he played for eight years before accepting the position of Associate Concertmaster of the New York Philharmonic under Zubin Mehta, a post he held for 19 years.
Principal Cello, Christopher Rex joined the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra (ASO) as Principal in 1979, the same year in which he became the first cellist ever to win the string prize in the biennial Young Artists Competition of the National Federation of Music Clubs. Since then he has appeared as recitalist and chamber musician across the nation.
Mr. Rex's solo performances with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra include Strauss's Don Quixote and concertos by Shostakovich, Victor Herbert, Dvořák, and Elgar. He is a founding member of the Georgian Chamber Players, and is the founder and General and Artistic Director of the Amelia Island Chamber Music Festival in Florida. He is also Artistic Director of the Madison Chamber Music Festival in Georgia and is on the Board of Directors of Chamber Music America.
ABOUT FSYO: The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra aims to educate and inspire Florida's top young musicians through programs committed to strengthening musical talents and developing appreciation of the arts through classical music. The FSYO, in its 58th Concert Season, comprises three full orchestras and one string training orchestra made up of more than 250 students from eight Central Florida counties.
Programs are sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Darden Restaurant Foundation; Universal Orlando Foundation; The Central Florida Foundation and United Arts of Central Florida. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org.
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