Goodbye Winter, Hello Spring! FSYO Winter Review

Spring has sprung and FSYO is almost finished with its exciting 60th Anniversary Season. As we get ready for the final performances, let's take a look back at the many performances that we participated in to kick off 2017.

The first performance of the new year took place on February 12th in Celebration as the Symphonic Orchestra made their annual appearance at the Celebration Foundation's Classical Concert Series. The orchestra wowed the audience with their performance of the complete Symphony No. 5 by Tchaikovsky. Also featured, was a performance of the Lalo Cello Concerto by Concerto Competition winner, Brenton Zhang.

The next weekend was a busy one. On February 18th, Symphonic was on stage again! This time performing at Walt Disney World for Epcot's International Festival of the Arts. They did two performances and received a standing ovation! (We've heard that that rarely happens for daytime performances)

The next day, February 19th, Overture Strings, Prelude and Philharmonia took the stage at Mead Botanical Garden to present their Spring in the Garden Concert. This was an outdoor, picnic-style concert at the amphitheater built by FSYO in 2012.

The final performance of the winter was The Opera Ball. A new endeavor for FSYO, the evening included an elegant dinner, chamber music performances, and a silent auction. Following dinner, guests moved into the theater where the pre-professional FSYO Symphonic Orchestra, in collaboration with UCF Opera, presented a special interactive version of Act II of Die Fledermaus by Johann Strauss II with a special performance by Concerto Competition Winner, Emily Erdman.

In addition to the performances, FSYO members took part in sectional rehearsals with some of Central Florida's top musicians. There were also several performances by our Chamber and small ensembles - including Arts For All Day, which was a free arts day put on by United Arts to help give new patrons a sampling of all that the Central Florida Arts community has to offer.

To close off the season, FSYO will have two more performances: The Chamber Ensemble at the Timucua White House (April 9th) and The 60th Season Finale at Bob Carr Theater (May 7th). Auditions for the next season will take place in May and registration has begun. Don't forget to also sign up for Stringmania Summer Camp!