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FSYO SPOTLIGHT: ANDREW CHESHIRE

We have many graduating seniors this year in FSYO, some of whom are finishing high school after only three years! It is an amazing task to be committed to extra-curricular activities and maintain an accelerated academic track, but this was an easy task for our Symphonic Orchestra Concert Master, Andrew Cheshire. Read on for an interview with this talented young musician.

FSYO: How long have you been with FSYO? What made you want to join?

Andrew: I started FSYO five years ago. I began in Philharmonic, first violin section. Then I became concertmaster of the Philharmonic. The third year and fourth year, I was in the Symphonic, first violin section. This year, I am the concertmaster. I feel humbled to be leading such an amazing group of musicians under the baton of Maestro Lane.

Had I not joined FSYO, I would not be the musician I am today. I knew right away that the experience of working with other serious musicians would challenge me—it did, and continues to do so every year.

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Andrew shaking hands with Maestro Lane

FSYO: You participated in the National Youth Orchestra this summer. How was that experience?

Andrew: I learned more musically the summer of NYO-USA than I ever have in the past. However, NYO-USA wasn't just a musical experience for me. It influenced me in so many other ways as well. Traveling to Russia helped me to look past the labels that are put on people and ideas. To Americans, Russian's are looked at as Communists who carry no emotions, when in reality they are some of the nicest people I have ever met. In a similar way, classical music in America is labeled as a dead art. I want to be part of the future orchestras of America that prove this label wrong. Classical music is something more powerful than words. It is the force that brings more than nine thousand people together in one space. It is a universal language which allows communication between any two people no matter what nationality. Classical music is the past, the present, and the future. Classical music is my future.

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Andrew, one of last year's Concerto Competition winners, performing his concerto at Bob Carr

FSYO: You are a senior this year; a very exciting time! What are looking forward to the most this year? What are your plans after graduation?

Andrew: This year, I look forward to developing my leadership skills as the concertmaster of the FSYO. I also look forward to walking across the stage at the Bob Carr to graduate from the program, simply because I feel I now have the maturity and the skills to learn at the college level. I hope to attend college at one of the following universities where I can major in violin performance and minor in business: Jacobs School of Music/Indiana University; Cleveland Institute of Music/Case Western Reserve University; Eastman School of Music/University of Rochester; Thornton School of Music/University of Southern California; FSU School of Music/Florida State University.

Ultimately, I hope to graduate from college and be a member of one of the "Big Five" Orchestras in America. I know that my goal is attainable because of my training, such as with the FSYO and my years to come in college.

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Andrew in his cap and gown!

Thank you, Andrew, for the interview! Be sure to come and see Andrew sitting first chair in FSYO concerts this season.

Have more questions for Andrew? Email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For Immediate Release

November 5, 2013

FSYO Performs The Annual Concerto Competition Finalists' Recital on November 10

ORLANDO, FL – On November 10, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will hold a recital showcasing the 2013-2014 Annual Concerto Competition Finalists. A highlight of the FSYO Season, the Concerto Competition encourages students to step out of their roles within the orchestra, and into a soloist's seat. Join us as these talented musicians compete to win the honor of performing their concerto, accompanied by the FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra, in a FSYO regular season concert. Winners from previous seasons have gone on to study at Juilliard, Manhattan School of Music, The Boston Conservatory, and many other prestigious institutions around the country.

Finalists, in alphabetical order:

Rebecca Edge, Violin: Concerto No. 2, Op. 22 – H. Wieniawski

Emily Erdman, Violin: Concert No. 3, Op. 61 – C. Saint Saens

Jean-Marie Glazer, Cello: Concerto No. 1 in C Major, Hob. VIIb: 1 – J. Haydn

John Horzen, Violin: Concerto in C Major, Op. 48 – D. Kabalevsky

Jocelyn Hsu, Violin: Concerto in E minor, Op. 64 – F. Mendelssohn

Vanessa Huber Weber, Violin: Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op. 26 – M. Bruch

Nicholas Johnson, Cello: Concerto No. 1, Op. 33 – C. Saint Saens

Ivan Kaiser, Cello: Concerto in E minor, Op. 85 – E. Elgar

Tyler Pacheco, Viola: Concerto in A minor – W. Walton

The recital begins at 6:30 pm, Sunday, November 10, 2013, at St. Paul's Presbyterian Church, 4917 Eli St., Orlando, FL 32804. Admission is free!

Join as we follow Nishad, one of our Seniors graduating later this year.

In this series, we'll follow FSYO students through their busy lives, and learn how they excel in balancing school, family, friends, and music. Read on for an interview with Nishad, one of our Symphonic violin players and a high school senior.

FSYO: When did you join FSYO? What made you initially want to join?

Nishad: I joined the FSYO 7 years ago, reluctantly, because my teacher suggested it and my parents all but forced me. After the first rehearsal, they would have had to chain me up on Sundays to keep me from coming back!

Nishad exploring the trails of Florida!

FSYO: You graduate high school this year! What are your college plans? Will music be involved?

Nishad: My college plans are to attend the University of Florida, major in environmental engineering, and minor in music. I hope to be part of a small ensemble in addition to the normal curriculum. Although it may not be central to my life, I hope to keep music with me wherever I go.

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Nishad taking in the scenery....

FSYO: Symphonic's playing Romeo and Juliet at the October 13 opening concert. What are the challenges of this piece? Your favorite parts?

Nishad: Romeo and Juliet is a toughie, but one that I have hoped we would play for years! There are some devilishly tricky runs that are very high-maintenance and tough to keep perfectly in time. In contrast, it's easy to get carried away on the beautiful lyrical parts and forget that I'm part of a section, and that non-soloistic rules of rhythm and pulse still apply. The most challenging part of this piece is listening across the group and lining up my part with the rest of the ensemble, especially during the fast sections.

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Nishad featured in another sneak peek from our photographer Tina Craig.

Thanks for the interview, Nishad! Be sure to come listen to him and the Symphonic Orchestra tackle Romeo and Juliet at the October 13th season opener. Learn more about the concert here.

Have questions for Nishad? Email them to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

For Immediate Release

September 29, 2013

FSYO Announces October 13th 57th Season Opening Concert, Featuring David Bjella

ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra's 57th Season opens with an October 13th concert featuring all four of the organization's orchestras and distinguished cellist David Bjella, who enjoys a successful career as both an educator and performer.

The orchestras – Overture Strings, a string training orchestra with performers 7 to 14 years old; Prelude, whose musicians are age 9 to 15; Philharmonia, featuring 11 to 18-year-olds; and Symphonic, a pre-professional group whose members are age 13 to 20 – will present works from composers including Verdi, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky. The Symphonic orchestra program will feature a piece for solo cello and orchestra with cellist David Bjella: currently Associate Professor of Cello and Director of the Chamber Music program at Stetson University and Co-Principal of the IRIS Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Michael Stern.

Mr. Bjella will be performing Gabriel Faure's Elegie for cello and orchestra; a piece he believes stands apart as both beautiful and emotive. When asked to speak about the piece Mr. Bjella:

"It [The Elegie] is a solo cello piece with orchestra that is extremely emotional and gut wrenching at its core. It has the full range of dynamics and it is written in the incredibly dark key of c minor. It is also an "old friend" of mine and I absolutely love the way Faure has orchestrated the piece".

The most special and attractive aspect of this piece is a "dark singing quality I love... It should soar above the orchestra". He says. "The biggest challenge is bringing across the emotional element of the music along with projecting beyond the symphonic sound." This piece will be the special focus of the opening concert.

The professor has spent time with various FSYO students helping them to strengthen their skills, but this will be the first time he has played with an FSYO orchestra in concert. "I love the FSYO! I have had students in this group for the last 20 years and I have found this group is quite professional in every way-- the conductors, the administration, the students and parents."

Mr. Bjella sees playing for a live audience essential to a young developing musician. "Playing music with an audience is the best for any of us! There is an edge that comes with a live performance that one can never duplicate in the practice room or rehearsal. The art of communication is a wonderful thing to feel and react to as well. I love it and it is important for kids to experience that as well".

Audience members can join this exciting event by purchasing tickets, which range from $8 to $16, through the FSYO website (www.fsyo.org). The concert begins at 4 p.m. Sunday, October 13, at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Center, 401 W. Livingston St. This concert is part of the Season Subscription Package.

ABOUT: 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 57th 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; 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.

With the pasta fundraiser in full swing, the FSYO team put some of our favorite recipes together to inspire you. These recipes are quick and easy! With cooler weather coming soon, there is nothing more comforting than a bowl of chicken noodle soup. You can support FSYO by making a pasta purchase here!

We've selected a fun video for the recipe behind the bag of chicken noodle soup!

Thanks to the generous support of professional photographer Tina Craig, FSYO will have an array of photos to select from for our upcoming 2013-2014 season. The photo shoot featured several current FSYO members selected at random from a pool of applicants and will serve FSYO in a press and marketing capacity.

Here's a sneak peek of one of our french horn players, Zachary Ewers.

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