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This season marked the start of something wonderful and new for FSYO: the launch of the new beginning violin program, Sing-Song, String-Along. Graciously funded by TD Bank, Sing-Song, String-Along is a music education program focused on nurturing the musical, social, and cognitive development of primary-age children, through the study of the violin in a small-group setting.

For 15 weeks, 12 young, budding musicians and their parents met, learned, laughed and grew as the program's first-ever class. Lessons combined music engagement, ear training, and fine motor skill development as students learned beginning violin. One of the best parts of the program was the student-parent interaction. Students and parents learned to hold the instrument and bow comfortably, correct bow placement and how to recognize and produce a beautiful tone on their instrument. Parents were asked to actively participate in each class in order to continue empowering their little learners at home, which they did, and it proved to play a significant role in the success of the program.

In order to wrap-up the program and show off what they learned, the students of Sing-Song, String-Along presented an open house, on Sunday, February 16th at the College Park Baptist Church. The event was filled with family, friends and a beautiful rendition of "Chicken on a Fence Post". We are so proud of our students and would like to congratulate them on a job well done. We look forward to watching their development and to the future success of the program!

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To close out 2013, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra launched its first Power2Give campaign in hopes of raising the funds needed to replace the organization's old, worn conductor's podium. Well, we did it! - or should we say YOU did it! Thanks to the help of some generous supporters and an anonymous donor who agreed to match some funds, the FSYO will be purchasing a new, sturdy conductor's podium and road case that will serve us for years to come. We hope to debut the podium at the Finale Concert in May and will post updates, as the time gets closer.

For those unfamiliar with the site, power2give.org is similar to crowd funding websites, such as kickstarter.com and indiegogo.com, but is geared toward assisting in the fundraising of non-profit arts organizations. If you wanted to donate to this project but didn't get the chance, don't fret; we are always working on something and could always use your help! Future donations can be made here and be on the look out for our future power2give campaigns!

For Immediate Release

February 25, 2014

Spring into Music with the FSYO Annual Children Helping Children Concert

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, in partnership with The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, presents their annual Children Helping Children Concert on Sunday, March 9, 2014. FSYO's pre-professional Symphonic Orchestra, with special soloists and Concerto Competition Finalists: Rebecca Edge and John Horzen, will perform in hopes of introducing young concertgoers to classical music while increasing awareness, raising funds and collecting donations for Second Harvest Food Bank. An ongoing partnership, all proceeds of this event will go to The Second Harvest Food Bank as they fight to end hunger and feed hope.

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Students from FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra celebrate a successful community partnership in 2013!

Families all over Central Florida are struggling to get by and, far too often, hard decisions must be made that leave little to no money for food. According to the Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida, over 150 thousand children are struggling with hunger in our area every day. The Second Harvest Food Bank pools and allocates donations to over 500 nonprofit community partners such as shelters, soup kitchens and pantries, who then distribute items to those in need. With help from donations, $1 can turn into up to $9 in food, and can make real difference. With your help, fewer Central Florida children will go to bed hungry.

The concert will begin at 3:00 p.m. at the College Park Baptist Church, located at 1914 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804. Admission can be obtained traditionally by purchasing tickets via www.fsyo.org or by bringing 5-10 canned goods per person to donate to Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. As usual, all teachers receive free admission to this and all FSYO concerts.

About The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Food: Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida is a non-profit organization with a vision of a hunger-free Central Florida. They work to realize this vision by providing access to food and other grocery products in order to meet the need of nutritious food in our community. The organization mobilizes leaders and communities by bringing visibility to the invisible problem of hunger and poverty throughout the six Central Florida countries in which the agency works: Brevard, Lake, Orange, Osceola, Seminole and Volusia. The goal of the organization is to provide availability and access to food and other grocery products in order to close the gap between need for food and availability by having programs such as Grocery Alliance, Community Kitchen, Hi-Five Kids Pack Program and Kids Café, among others. For more information please visit http://www.foodbankcentralflorida.org

About FSYO: The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra aims to educate and inspire Central Florida's top young musicians via 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, one string training orchestra and various chamber groups, made up of more than 250 students from eight Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Lee, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Highlands and Volusia. 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. We thank these groups for their generous support. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org.

Joey Every year the FSYO presents its Celebration of Music Education Concert. This concert was created to promote the importance of music education, as well as honor the music educators that play an important role in the lives of our students. In line with honoring educators, we also give out an individual award to acknowledge a music educator that is doing outstanding work within the community. This year we would like to honor Joseph Vascik as an Outstanding Music Educator at our concert on Sunday, February 23, at The College Park Baptist Church Sanctuary - 1914 Edgewater Drive Orlando, FL 32804, 3:00 pm

"Local music teachers are essential to the musical growth and development of FSYO members. Joey Vascik is truly a great inspiration to many young trombonists in our community. It's with great appreciation that we present this award to him. Thank you Joey!" - Andrew Lane, Music Director

Joseph Vascik performs and teaches the trombone, euphonium, and bass trumpet. He earned his bachelor's degree in trombone performance from New England Conservatory. He credits Norman Bolter, Mike Roylance, Jeff Thomas, Roy Pickering, and Rick Fleming as valuable teachers. Joseph has performed with the Rhode Island Philharmonic, Jacksonville Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic, Brevard Symphony, Florida Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, and the Southwest Florida Symphony. He has recorded for Warner Brothers, Walt Disney World, and the Bach Festival Orchestra. He just completed his fifteenth year of playing with the Walt Disney World Orchestra for the Candlelight Processional.

Joseph teaches forty-five private students weekly and conducts a trombone choir of his students. His students repeatedly win auditions for Florida's All-State and All-County bands. Many of the trombone players in FSYO are students of Joseph. His students have been accepted and offered scholarships at many music schools, including the Curtis Institute, New England Conservatory, Interlochen Center For The Arts, and Manhattan School of Music. Outside of music, Joseph loves spending time with his wife and son, mountain biking, playing racquetball, and cooking with his giant wok.

For Immediate Release

February 16, 2014

Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra Now Accepting Applications

ORLANDO, Fla. – The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is now accepting applications for their upcoming 58th concert season beginning in August 2014. FSYO is calling for young, high spirited Central Florida musicians to embark on a journey of musical education, inspiration and development.

FSYO is distinguished as one of the nation's top youth orchestras. Their focus on providing students with a complete educational experience during rehearsals and in a variety of live performance opportunities throughout the year contributes to the students' and program's success. A majority of their alumni have continued onto college, many pursuing music at prestigious schools such as the Julliard School of Music, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, New England Conservatory, among others.

FSYO auditions are for standard orchestral instruments and will be held for both new and returning members. Membership is available for all four of FSYO's award winning orchestras. Please take into consideration that each ensemble has a limited number of spots and an audition does not guarantee placement in FSYO. Acceptance and placement is completely merit-based, and those who audition are subjected to meet specific criteria to be considered.

Auditions require that participants prepare a specific excerpt posted on the FSYO website (www.fsyo.org) for the orchestra for which they are auditioning, as well as a one-minute solo of their choice and scales as listed. Applications for the 2014-2015 season are due by April 25, 2013.

About FSYO: The FSYO, currently in its 57th Concert Season, comprises three full orchestras, one string training orchestra and various chamber groups, made up of more than 250 students from eight Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Lee, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Highlands and Volusia. 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. We thank these groups for their generous support. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org.

For Immediate Release

February 12, 2014

FSYO to Host Their Annual Music Education Celebration Concert

ORLANDO, Fla. – On February 23, 2014, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will present their annual Celebration of Music Education Concert. This special concert event will feature performances from three of the organization's orchestras and will honor music educators throughout the Central Florida area for their passion and dedication to fostering a love for music in students.

As numerous studies indicate, music enhances the process of learning. Proven developmental benefits of music education include higher IQs, improved test scores, and increased language development, transcending the traditional ideas of just being 'musical.' According to Laura Lewis Brown, writer for the Public Broadcasting Service, "learning the do-re-mis can help children excel in ways beyond the basic ABCs."

FSYO would like to recognize music educators for the life changing work they do every day. Their devotion imparts an invaluable experience in the lives of their students and enhances the level at which organizations, like FSYO, can perform. By acknowledging and celebrating the key role music education plays in the lives of youths, the audience can experience and appreciate the merits of the players and the educators that have inspired them.

The Celebration of Music Education Concert will take place at 3:00 p.m. on Sunday, February 23, 2014 at the College Park Baptist Church, 1914 Edgewater Drive, Orlando, FL 32804. Open to the public, ticket prices range from $8 to $16 and can be purchased through the FSYO website (www.fsyo.org). This concert is part of the Season Subscription Package. As always, teachers receive free admission to this and all FSYO concerts.