Blog

For Immediate Release

December 13, 2013

FSYO Launches its first Power 2 Give Campaign Fundraiser

ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra has officially launched its first Power2Give Campaign. Power2Give is a program 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. Hosted by United Arts of Central Florida, FSYO's project aims to replace the organization's old, worn conductor's podium. The orchestra's "pitiful podium" is not only an eyesore, standing apart as a bright red behemoth in a sea of concert black, it can also become a safety hazard to the talented conductors that ascend it concert after concert.

FSYO, currently serving over 250 students spanning 9 different Central Florida counties, hopes to raise the funds to acquire a good quality podium that will last for many years to come, serving not only the musicians of today but also tomorrow's young music-makers. The financial goal of the fundraising project is $1136, which will cover the cost of a new, durable conductor's podium, a road case to protect it during transport and insure longevity and the administrative and management fees incurred by the website. Individuals wishing to help fund the orchestra's campaign and see them reach their goal can visit the campaign website at http://power2give.org/go/p/2554.

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 237 students from around Central Florida.

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.

ABOUT: Power2Give is an online arts and culture marketplace. It matches donors with projects for which local nonprofits are seeking funding. It allows donors to breathe life into the arts and culture local community — project by project. It stretches donors' dollars by letting community supporters offer matching dollars to boost support for these important projects.

United Arts of Central Florida is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit charitable organization and the one-stop shop for funding of the arts, sciences and history throughout Lake, Orange, Osceola and Seminole Counties.

For Immediate Release

December 11, 2013

Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra Alumni Concert at the Mead Botanical Garden Amphitheater

Orlando, FL- The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is proud to welcome its alumni back to the stage in a concert on Sunday December 22nd at 4:00pm in the picturesque Mead Gardens in Winter Park. This first annual event honors alumni and their achievements at FSYO. The participating Alumni have graduated and gone to study at prestigious universities such as Stanford University and the Julliard School of Music, among others. Many FSYO graduates have gone on to enjoy successful professional music careers, while others have gone on to hold leading positions in medicine, law and business, with some even playing a role in FSYO today.

"The leadership, thoughtfulness and independence learned through music education will help guide our students throughout their lives. It is a great honor to welcome them back and have them share their experiences and accomplishments with our current students, helping them grow as developing musicians" - FSYO's Executive Director, Heide Evans Waldron.

This long-awaited event will feature 90 of FSYO's past musicians, with representation from the majority of its 57-year span. Alumni are coming in from all over the country, some even as far as Japan, to participate in what is sure to be an evening to remember! The program will include some FSYO Holiday staples such as "Sleigh Ride" and some traditional holiday pieces, such as movements from the Nutcracker Suite. Most significantly, the program will feature the worldwide debut of the piece "Solstice". This prominence of this debut is amplified as FSYO Alumnus and current conductor, John Dupuis, composed the piece for this event.

"Our vision for this event is to welcome all former FSYO members. We know music is an important and inspirational part of their lives, so we want to reconnect with them as part of this very special performance." – FSYO Music Director, Andrew Lane

This concert will bring everyone together for an afternoon picnic celebrating the entwining of past and present fine musicians in FSYO history and the beginning of a meaningful tradition for years to come. The concert will be held at the Mead Gardens Amphitheater, Sunday December 22 at 4:00pm. Tickets to this event can be purchased on the FSYO website, www.fsyo.org.

About the Mead Gardens:

Flourishing in Winter Park, amid homes, businesses and academic environments, is Mead Garden. Composed of walking and biking trails, green houses for the countless flowers and outdoor theater built under the shade of the trees perfect of all kinds of events, picnic tables, the Mead Gardens is a retreat amidst the city's chaos. Through leadership, passion and fundraising, the garden has been able to provide programs such as Summer Camps for children, 5K runs, and Weekend Adventures such as Eco Saturdays, and Community Outreach like the Duck Derby. The gardens daily goal is to challenge the intellect, engage the imagination, and celebrate the human spirit by connecting people with plants, the environment, and a full spectrum of the sciences and cultural arts. Previously known as the Friends of Mead garden, Mead Botanical Garden, Inc. a non-profit 501(c)3 whose mission continued to be one of protecting, preserving and restoring the garden. For more information please visit www.meadgarden.org.

If you missed the Concerto Competition recital, you missed an amazing musical experience. All of our finalist's played marvelously and the judges had a very tough decision to make. This year's prestigious group of judges included Rimma Bergeron-Langlois – Concert Master of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Gary Wolf – Former Professor of Piano at UCF, and Patrick Graham - Clarinetist with the Orlando Philharmonic. Congratulations are in order to our 4 concerto winners who will be performing with FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra at these concerts:

Celebration Foundation, Classical Concert Series – January 26, 2014:

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

Children Helping Children – March 9, 2014:

John Horzen - Concerto in C Major, Op. 48, Mvmt. 1 - Kabalevsky

Rebecca Edge - Concerto No.2, Op. 22, Mvmt. 1 – Wieniawski

Finale – May 4, 2014:

Tyler Pacheco - Viola Concerto, Mvmt. 1 – Walton

For more information and to purchase tickets to these concerts click here.

Finalist, in alphabetical order by last name:

Rebecca Edge, Violin: Rebecca Edge is a 14 year old student at Winter Park High School. She has been a member of FSYO for six years, and is currently assistant concertmaster of Symphonic. In 2011, she was an FSYO concerto competition winner, a Bach Festival Young Artist Competition finalist, placed in the BRAVO International Chamber Music Workshop Concerto Competition, and was concertmaster of the All State Middle School Orchestra.

In 2013, she soloed with the Florida Lakes Symphony Orchestra when she won the First Annual Guy Saint Clair Competition, and was a finalist in the New World Symphony Young Artist Competition. This past summer, she attended Boston University Tanglewood Institute on merit scholarship, where she served as principal second violinist of the Young Artist Orchestra and was chosen to participate in a masterclass with Peter Zazofsky. She has enjoyed the opportunity of studying violin with Lev Gurevich for the past nine years.

Emily Erdman, Violin: Emily Erdman is the principal second violinist of FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra. This is her seventh season with FSYO. Emily is a freshman at Seminole High School, where she holds a 4.5 GPA in the International Baccalaureate program, is a member of the Key Club, and is the concertmaster of the Seminole High School Symphonic Orchestra. She is a member of the Teen Team at the Central Florida Zoo and aspires to become a veterinarian.

Emily has been seated in the Florida All State Orchestra by audition each year since her eligibility in the seventh grade. She also participates annually in the Florida Federation of Music Clubs and Florida Music Educators Association competitions. She enjoys playing at her church as well as with her string quartet, which performs regularly at community and private events. Emily has been playing violin for ten years and is privileged to study with Dr. Lev Gurevich.

Jean-Marie Glazer, Cello: Born January 19, 1998 in Laval, near Montreal, Canada,Jean-Marie started his music studies at 3 on piano, violin and voice, switching to cello shortly after. He has been a member of FSYO for nine years as of 2013, and has thirteen years of chamber music experience with the Glazer family quintet, the jazz quartet, the string trio, the vocal quintet, and also other chamber experience outside of the family. His cello teachers include Susan McCoy, Sue Goldman, Brenda Higgins and David Bjella (current).

Although of a young age, Jean-Marie possesses a vast performance knowledge of many kinds of music, and has performed in over a thousand concerts, recitals and functions. Despite his musical abilities, Jean-Marie wants to be an actor when he grows up.

John Horzen, Violin: John Horzen is currently a sophomore in the Cypress Creek International Baccalaureate program, and a longtime member of the FSYO. He studies with Dr. Lev Gurevitch and has previously been a finalist in both the Bach Festival's Young Artist competition and the FSYO Concerto competition. He is an FMEA All-State participant, and the concertmaster of his school orchestra. When not practicing, working through his pile of homework or finding time to sleep in between, he enjoys reading, rocketry and Doctor Who.

Jocelyn Hsu, Violin: Jocelyn Hsu, age 18, began studying violin with Dr. Lev Gurevich at the age of 9. She has competed at local and state levels of competition under FSMTA, MTNA, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, and OMC, and has ranked at the top of her ensembles in all-county and all-state orchestras. This is Jocelyn's third season playing with FSYO. She is currently the associate concertmaster of the Symphonic Orchestra under the direction of Maestro Andrew Lane. Jocelyn attended Interlochen Arts Camp this past summer and received the Mikhail Stolarevsky and Alexander Stolley Concertmaster Scholarship. She plans on studying music when she goes to college this fall and she would like to thank her teachers for their inspiration and work they have dedicated into her music as well as her family for their continuous support.

Vanessa Huber Weber, Violin: Vanessa Huber Weber, an 8th grade student with Seminole County Virtual School, started violin lessons two months before her 4th birthday. She began in Overture Strings when she was 5. This is her eighth year as an FSYO member and is currently in her second year in Symphonic.Vanessa has performed 3 times in the Seminole County Arts Alive program and has represented FSYO at the Mayor's address and other functions. Vanessa was a finalist in the Orfeo Festival Concerto Competition and in the Orfeo Festival International Competition in Vipiteno, Italy this summer. Vanessa studies with Dr. Alvaro Gomez. She also participates in the Winter Park Chamber Music Academy.Vanessa has volunteered her time and talent to Children's Miracle Network, Pathways to Home, and Community Based Care. Vanessa enjoys baking, playing piano, competitive fencing and of course, orchestra.

Ivan Kaiser, Cello: Ivan Kaiser began playing the cello at age 11 and has served as principal cellist in the FSYO Symphony and Philharmonic orchestras, the Florida Young Artist's orchestra, and assistant principal in the Florida All State orchestra. Ivan would especially like to thank his private teacher David Bjella, and John Dupuis and Andrew Lane for introducing him to the advanced symphonic repertoire played so well by the FSYO. Ivan is a senior at Lake Howell High School and is currently juggling college applications to both music and film schools.

Tyler Pacheco, Viola: Award winning violist, Tyler Pacheco, 17, is a senior at Lake Highland Preparatory School. Tyler has played the viola since age 9. This is Tyler's fourth year as a member of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, this year holding the principal violist position. For three years, he has been the Co-Principal violist of the Winter Park Chamber Music Academy under the direction of Dr. Alvaro Gomez. Tyler has attended Florida All-State for two years and as principal violist for the 2011-2012 conference.

For the past three summers, Tyler has attended the Brevard Music Center Festival in Brevard, North Carolina, under Artistic director Keith Lockhart, holding the Assistant Principal Viola Position. In March of 2013, Tyler won first prize at the Frost School of Music viola solo competition in the senior division at the University of Miami. In his free time, Tyler enjoys his role as captain of the Lake Highland ArcherTeam. Tyler studies with Dr. Jesus Alfonzo.

ORLANDO, FL – The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra today announced that it has been selected by multi-platinum singer-songwriter Josh Groban to receive a donation from his Find Your Light Foundation, which is dedicated to enriching the lives of young people through arts, education, and cultural awareness. FSYO is one of just 23 arts education nonprofit organizations selected by Groban to receive funds from The Find Your Light Foundation during his "In The Round" tour.

"The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is very excited and thankful to Josh and the Find Your Light Foundation for this opportunity. We hope that this will help spread the word and get the community excited about arts in Orlando," says FSYO Executive Director, Heide Evans Waldron.

"Ensuring every child has the opportunity to experience an arts education is very important to me," said Groban. "The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra shares this goal with me, and it gives me great pleasure to highlight the work they do."

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FSYO students pose before the concert with Josh Groban.

While Groban tours the U.S. on his "In The Round" tour, his Find Your Light Foundation will make a cash donation to a nonprofit arts education organization that operates in each locale in which the tour stops. In addition, Groban is inviting the head of that nonprofit; the artists, students and/or teachers who provide services for the nonprofit; and the children and young adults who receive services from the nonprofit to attend his concert and be recognized from the stage. They will also have the opportunity to meet Groban prior to the performance.

Groban will be in Orlando, FL to perform on November 9, 2013 as part of his "In The Round" worldwide tour running through November. The tour supports his recent and sixth studio album, 'All That Echoes' which has already been certified platinum in the U.S. and debuted at No.1. Tickets for Josh's upcoming shows are available through http://www.ticketmaster.com.

ABOUT: The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra aims to educate and inspire Central 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. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org.

ABOUT FIND YOUR LIGHT: To find out more about the Find Your Light Foundation, please visit the organization's website at www.findyourlightfoundation.org and/or its Facebook page at www.facebook.com/findyourlightfoundation.

2013-14 FSYO Concert Poster Holiday Concert

For Immediate Release

WKMG Local 6 Presents the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra Holiday Concert in Support of the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Network FSYO Partners With WKMG Local 6 for Holiday Concert on Saturday, December 7th

ORLANDO, FL – On Saturday, December 7th, 2013, the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra will once again join forces with WMKG Local 6 and the City of Orlando to present the fourth annual WKMG Local 6 Holiday Concert. The concert will feature FSYO orchestras and a special appearance from the Central Florida Community Arts choir, and will also serve to benefit the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Network. In past seasons, attendees contributed $800 in Salvation Army Red Kettle donations and over 300 gifts for children in need.

Hosted by WKMG Local 6 talent, and featuring FSYO's four award winning youth orchestras, this concert will ring in the holiday season with sing-alongs, Yule-tide cheer and a very special ho-ho-holiday guest. The concert will begin at 4 p.m. at the Lake Eola Band Shell, 195 N Rosalind Avenue, in Downtown Orlando and is free to the public; however in keeping with the spirit of the season, and in support of The Salvation Army's Angel Tree Network, the FSYO kindly asks attendees to bring a new toy or new clothing item for donation.

ABOUT: WKMG Local 6 is one of the foremost television stations in the Central Florida area. Serving nine counties, WKMG Local 6 provides award-winning daily-newscasts, in-depth investigations, local entertainment and network programming to the community. Known for being Central Florida's first television station, Local 6 has received numerous accolades for their work including the prestigious Edward R. Murrow Award and multiple Emmy and Associated Press awards. Owned by Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc., a division of the Washington Post Company, WKMG Local 6 is Central Florida's source for CBS. Local 6 serves the public through the Good Neighbor 6 community outreach program, bringing important, life-saving information to Central Floridians through special events and programming. Additionally, Local 6 exclusively broadcasts RetroTV, which brings viewers all their favorite television classics. Visit clickorlando.com for continuous updates on local news, weather & sports.

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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