The Grove at Mead Botanical Garden, an open air pavilion designed for musical performance, theatrical productions, film viewings, educational programming, and community gatherings, will be located in the heart of the 47-acre public garden in Winter Park. It will serve FSYO as its preferred site for outdoor concerts.
"The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is honored to be a part of this project. The Grove will provide our young musicians with an opportunity to perform on a stage, surrounded by Mead Garden's beautiful landscape. We are grateful to be working with wonderful community partners that support arts and music education," said FSYO Executive Director Heide Evans Waldron.
The Grove is one of the active components of the garden's master plan initiated by Mead Botanical Garden, Inc. This non-profit community volunteer group organized in 2003, originally as Friends of Mead Garden, to revitalize the public garden in partnership with the City of Winter Park. Planning for The Grove began in 2010 when FSYO, who had secured an initial funding source, approached the volunteer group and City of Winter Park. The three groups worked hand-in-hand on the vision and selecting the location for the venue. The Grove is located between the Lake Lillian wetlands and MBG's environmental learning center where the Mead Young Naturalist Summer Camp and other programs take place. Planning work is now underway to restore Lake Lillian.
"The Grove at Mead Botanical Garden will provide visitors and users the opportunity to experience a full-range of senses for performances and learning," said Bill Weir, president of Mead Botanical Garden, Inc.
Phase I of The Grove project includes the 40' x 60' concrete performance venue. Phase II funding is being sought for additional site work, landscape and horticulture improvements.The Grove at Mead Botanical Garden will be available for community rentals when requests do not conflict with FSYO performance needs. Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras and City of Winter Park are partners with us in this $900,000 project. Under Music Director Andrew Lane, the Youth Orchestra will use The Grove as their preferred site for outdoor concerts. A friend of the orchestra has generously donated $250,000 toward construction.
The Grove will take its place among the foremost botanical garden performance venues in the country. We invite you to join in creating this exciting legacy.
For any questions, concerns or feedback, please feel free to contact the FSYO Office by phoning 407.999.7800, or by emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
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