History

Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that has served Central Florida for over sixty-four years. In the early 1950's, Rollins College music professor Alphonse Carlo recognized a need for a youth orchestra program in the Orlando area and accordingly organized free Saturday classes for string students in the community. Mr. Carlo's ultimate dream of forming a youth orchestra came to fruition when the popularity of his ensemble reached its stride in 1957 and the first public FSYO concert was stage in November, 1959. For the first 20 years of its existence, FSYO was supported by both Rollins College and the Florida Symphony Orchestra.

Today, FSYO serves nearly three-hundred students and is comprised of seven ensembles: three symphonic orchestras, one string-training orchestra, a chamber orchestra, and two jazz orchestras. Additionally, FSYO organizes two supplementary string programs during the fall and summer months: Sing-Song, String-Along and Stringmania Summer Camp. FSYO's program is carefully structured to encourage a student's growth throughout their primary and secondary years. Our full range of ensembles gives each student a place to excel with peers at a similar level, and an opportunity to collaborate with seasoned music professionals on local, national, and international levels. Beyond the regular season, students in FSYO's Touring Orchestra participate in life-changing experiences through annually alternating international & national tours.

Membership in Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras is by invitation only, following competitive entrance auditions. To ensure 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.