Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras (FSYO) is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has been serving Central Florida for over 70 years. In the early 1950's, Rollins College music professor, Alphonse Carlo, recognized a need for a youth orchestra and organized free Saturday classes for string students with a dream of forming a youth orchestra. The youth orchestra grew in popularity through 1957 and staged its first public concert in November 1959 with 59 members. For the first 20 years, FSYO was jointly supported by both Rollins College and the Florida Symphony Orchestra.
Today, FSYO serves almost 350 members and is comprised of eight ensembles - three symphony orchestras, two string-training orchestras, a percussion ensemble, two jazz bands - and one supplementary program: Stringmania Summer Camp. FSYO programs are carefully structured to encourage member growth with FSYO throughout their primary and secondary years, and during the summer, tour ensemble members participate in life-changing experiences of organized tours every other year.
Membership in Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras is by invitation only, following competitive entrance auditions. Ensuring equality and the opportunity for growth, membership renewal is not automatically guaranteed, as all members must re-audition each year. Participation in FSYO requires a substantial commitment to weekly rehearsals, practice hours, and concert performances.
Tours, Awards, and Collaborations
- In 1989, FSYO's Touring Orchestra premiered at Carnegie Hall in New York, NY.
- In 1991, FSYO's Touring Orchestra premiered at Symphony Hall in Boston, MA.
- In Summer 1993, FSYO musicians served as Cultural Youth Ambassadors in a performance tour to Basel, Switzerland, and Barcelona, Spain. The following Spring 1994, FSYO hosted the Basel Orchestra for joint concerts in Orlando, FL.
- In Summer 1995, sixty musicians from FSYO's Touring Orchestra toured and performed in Great Britain. In the following Summer 1996, the musicians from the East Herts Music Centre Orchestra reciprocated and traveled to the U.S. to perform with FSYO at Epcot as well as a standing-room-only concert at Seminole Community College.
- In Summer 1997, FSYO Touring Orchestra traveled to Australia to perform in the Sydney Youth Musicale, participating in home-stays, concerts and tours. The tour culminated in a performance at the world-renowned Sydney Opera House.
- In Summer 1999, forty-six musicians from FSYO's Touring Orchestra visited Munich, Salzburg, Vienna, and Prague, with performances in Salzburg, Vienna, and Marionkron, Austria. In Vienna, the orchestra competed in the 28th International Youth and Music Festival, winning Second Place in the Youth Orchestra Division against European youth orchestras that included members up to age 29.
- In Summer 2002, FSYO was extremely proud to be one of six youth orchestras from across the U.S. selected by audition to participate in the prestigious National Youth Orchestra Festival in Sarasota, Florida.
- In Summer 2004, FSYO's Touring Orchestra traveled to Washington, D.C., performing with Martin Hackleman, Principal Horn of the National Symphony, and participating in Master Classes with the Baltimore Symphony.
- In the 2010 – 2011 Season, internationally acclaimed violinist Nadja Solerno-Sonnenberg collaborated with FSYO for a series of rehearsals, culminating in a concert performance of Mendelssohn's Violin Concerto with the Symphonic Orchestra for an audience of more than 1,200 at the Bob Carr Theater.
- In the 2011 – 2012 Season, FSYO received a significant grant from the Josh Groban Foundation, leading to a backstage meet and greet for select FSYO members during Groban's "Straight to You" Concert Tour.
- In the 2012 – 2013 Season, FSYO raised over $18,000 to support the creation of the Carl Rendek Scholarship Award.
- In the 2013 – 2014 Season, FSYO launched its beginning violin program: Sing-Song, String-Along.
- In the 2015 – 2016 Season, FSYO expanded its orchestras in forming the Chamber Orchestra, originally led by Dr. Mauricio Céspedes Rivero.
- In the 2016 – 2017 Season, FSYO's 60th Season, FSYO named Mr. Hanrich Claassen as Music Director.
- In Summer 2017, FSYO's Touring Orchestra embarked on a two-week tour to Salzburg, Austria and Prague, Czech Republic, launching FSYO's bi-yearly International Tour. Students participated in the Summa Cum Laude International Youth Music Festival in Vienna and received Second Place with Outstanding Success in the Symphony Orchestra category.
- In the 2017 – 2018 Season, FSYO expanded its orchestras in forming a Jazz Orchestra, led by Mr. Jeff Rupert. The great success of the Jazz Orchestra led to the addition of Jazz II Orchestra in the 2018 – 2019 Season, led by Mr. Kenneth Boyd.
- In Summer 2018, FSYO launched its bi-yearly Continental Tour, with the inaugural 2018 tour spanning the East Coast. During the tour, FSYO's Touring Orchestra visited Charleston, SC, Washington D.C., and New York, NY, performing at the College of Charleston Sottile Theatre and in DCINY's "Song/Play" program at Carnegie Hall.
- In Summer 2019, FSYO's Touring Orchestra embarked on a tour of China, performing in Shanghai, Beijing, Xi'an, and Hangzhou.
- In March 2020, FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra participated in the ASTA National Orchestra Festival competition - receiving 1st place in the Youth Symphony Orchestra division.
- In Summer of 2021, FSYO traveled to Miami, FL, for a 3-day tour - one of the first orchestras to begin touring again post COVID-19.
- In the 2021-2022 Season, FSYO’s 65th Season, FSYO named Dr. James O. Welsch as Music Director.
- In the 2022-2023 Season, FSYO expanded its program offerings by forming the Percussion Ensemble, originally led by Mr. Paul Yorke.
- In the 2022-2023 Season, FSYO hosted its inaugural Invitational featuring Oklahoma State University’s Faculty Brass Ensemble. During the Invitational, the visiting Guest Artist Ensemble clinics with FSYO Members as well as local school programs in Central Florida. The instrumentation of the group rotates between Strings, Winds, Brass, and Jazz personnel.
- In the 2022-2023 Season, FSYO created the Student Engagement Council (SEC) which is a group of members that represent their peers to increase the camaraderie between members outside of rehearsals and concerts.
- In the 2022-2023 Season, FSYO hosted the first ever Play-a-thon in March, raising money to help support the organization. Play-a-thon is a community wide event that encourages the members, Artistic Staff, Administrative Staff, and Board of Directors to raise money in support of music education. The fundraising period culminates in a free performance for the public at the Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park.
- In the Summer of 2023, FSYO’s Tour Program expanded to include both a Tour Orchestra and Tour Jazz Band. Together, the Tour Ensembles traveled to Italy for a 12 day tour and performed in Pavia, Padua, Perugia, and Rome while visiting Milan, Venice, Perugia, Pavia, Florence, Orvieto, and Rome.
- In the 2023-2024 Season, the Miro Quartet was the featured guest ensemble for Invitational. Miro performed a solo concert at Timucua and performed George Walker’s Lyric for Strings with the Symphonic Orchestra.
- In the summer of 2024, FSYO embarked on a domestic tour, performing and touring university music programs along the way. Stops included Nashville and Belmont University, Bloomington and Jacobs School of Music, and Atlanta, with the final destination being Chicago and Northwestern University.
- In the 2024-2025 Season, FSYO’s 68th Season, FSYO named Mr. Charles Watford as Music Director.
- In the 2024-2025 Season, FSYO expanded its program offerings by forming the Sinfonia Orchestra, originally led by Ms. Andrea Reynolds.
- In the Summer of 2025, FSYO’s Tour Orchestra and Tour Jazz Band made its debut in Japan on a 12 day tour and performed in Urayasu City, Gifu, and Hiroshima while visiting Tokyo, Urayasu City, Nagoya, Gifu, Hiroshima, Osaka, Kyoto, and Nara. During this tour, the Tour Orchestra collaborated with the Urayasu Youth Orchestra, Gifu University Orchestra, and Hiroshima Youth Orchestra in side-by-side performances.
- In the Summer of 2026, FSYO kicked off its Platinum Season, 70 years of musical excellence, with a tour to New York City. The Tour Orchestra returned to Carnegie Hall and performed in MCP’s Debut Series Performance, and the Tour Jazz Band made its debut in the Big Apple with a performance at The Jazz Gallery.
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