We are thrilled to announce that the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras’ Symphonic Orchestra has been named the 2024 Orlando Weekly Best of Orlando Award winner for Best Chamber Ensemble! This incredible honor is a testament to our young musicians' hard work, talent, and dedication, who have continually impressed audiences with their exceptional performances. In addition to this prestigious win, we are also proud to celebrate the Alphonse Carlo Jazz Band, which placed 3rd in the Best Jazz Act category. This recognition highlights the versatility and excellence of our music programs, as ..read more

ORLANDO, FL – Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras, a beacon of music education and young musical talent, is thrilled to announce the addition of three ensemble directors to our distinguished Artistic Team. These new additions exemplify our commitment to enhancing the opportunities for young musicians to learn and perform while delivering unparalleled musical experiences to our audience.   Meet Our Ensemble Conductors:   1. Dr. Jeannine Mongeon  Dr. Jeannine Mongeon will serve as the conductor of the Overture Strings ensemble. She earned music education degrees from Indiana Univers ..read more

ORLANDO, FL – After an extensive search, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras’ (FSYO) Board of Directors is honored to appoint teacher and conductor, Mr. Charles Watford, as Music Director and Symphonic Orchestra Conductor, effective July 8, 2024. “On behalf of the Music Director Search Committee and the entire organization, I am ecstatic to officially welcome Mr. Charles Watford to the FSYO team as Music Director and Symphonic Conductor! Charles brings over 30 years of teaching experience to FSYO, and during his interview, his passion for music and music education exuded from him. I am ..read more

ORLANDO, FL – Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras is now accepting applications for their upcoming 68th Concert Season beginning in August 2024. FSYO is calling for young, high spirited Central Florida musicians to embark on a journey of musical education, inspiration, and development. FSYO is distinguished as one of the nation’s top youth orchestras. Their focus on providing students with a complete educational experience during rehearsals, and in a variety of live performance opportunities, throughout the year contributes to the students’ and program’s success. A majority of their alumni have ..read more

ORLANDO, FL - Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras (FSYO) is excited to add a new ensemble to their program offerings: Sinfonia Orchestra. This brand new ensemble is geared towards students ages 11 to 16 years old, and it will become FSYO’s introductory full orchestra ensemble. “Sinfonia, FSYO's newest ensemble offering, creates a space within our collection of performance experiences which more vertically integrates within our current program offerings. In Sinfonia, we invite students into their first full symphony experience - one that better prepares them for the more rigorous training that co ..read more

Orlando, FL - The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras Board of Directors announces the current Music Director, Dr. James O. Welsch, will be stepping away from the position at the conclusion of this 67th season to embark on a new chapter. Welsch has been the Music Director of the organization since 2021, and he has played an integral role in the resurgence of FSYO post pandemic. Under his direction, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras expanded its ensemble offerings and deepened the impact of a member’s experiences. About his departure, Dr. Welsch expresses: “It is a bittersweet feeling that I anno ..read more

June 27 - Group photo before departure from MCO. June 28 - During the layover in Frankfurt, one third of the group missed the connection flight to Milan. After 36 hours of travel, the late arrival group finally retireved their lost luggage. June 29 - The group began the day with a walking tour of Milan. During their time in the city, they visited the Teatro Alla Scala Museum, Milan Duomo, and explored the city ..read more

June 27th: Group photo before departure from MCO. June 28th: During our lay-over in Frankfurt, we lost a third of a group during our connecting flight to Milan. After 36hrs of travel, we finally retireved our lost luggage. June 29th: The group Started the day with a walking tour of Milan. During their time in the city, they visited the Teatro Alla Scala Museum, the Milan Duomo, and explore the city ..read more

ORLANDO, FL - On Tuesday, June 27, 2023, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras (FSYO) students, families, and staff will embark on an experience of a lifetime for a Concert Tour around Italy. Travelers will spend 12 days exploring multiple Italian cities (Milan, Pavia, Cremona, Venice, Florence, Perugia, Assisi, Orvieto, Rome) with performances taking place in Pavia, Venice, Perugia, and Rome. This trip is an immersion into Italian food, music, and breathtaking landmarks like the famous Palazzo del Comune which is the home to many original Stradivarius instruments. Repertoire includes pieces ..read more

ORLANDO, FL – Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras (FSYO), in partnership with the Central Florida Composers Forum (CF2), welcomes back the Composers in Residency program with an added component. The Composers in Residency program is a partnership between FSYO and CF2 that began in 2019, and this collaboration gave CF2 composers the opportunity to have their pieces premiered and performed. In its inaugural year, the selected composers created pieces centered around the theme “Pulse,” tasked with interpreting the word into their compositions. The idea was to reflect on the lives lost at the Orland ..read more