Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras

To commemorate FSYO's Platinum Season | 70 years of musical excellence, FSYO is commissioning a piece for its Symphonic Orchestra and Alphonse Carlo Jazz Band. More information can be found through the Request for Proposal (RFP) found on our website: https://bit.ly/48U3EVE All applicant materials are due by June 1, 2026.

United Arts of Central Florida is proud to share that representatives from 45 local arts, science and history nonprofits gathered today at the Orlando Museum of Art to celebrate a record-breaking year for the annual Collaborative Campaign for the Arts. The 33rd annual campaign raised more than $11.6 million, exceeding this year’s $10 million goal and directly supporting participating nonprofit organizations across Central Florida. Between Dec. 1, 2025, and April 30, 2026, the campaign received 11,399 contributions — a powerful reminder of what happens when a community comes together to invest in creativity, culture, education, history and shared civic life. To every donor, corporate partner, participating nonprofit, board member, volunteer and advocate who made this possible: thank you. Together, we make art possible.

The United Arts of Central Florida Collaborative Campaign for the Arts has officially come to a close, and the incredible outpouring of support from the FSYO community has floored us. We are thrilled to share that over the past five months of the Collaborative Campaign, FSYO raised more than $80,000 in support of our programs. This achievement reflects your kindness and generosity and the shared commitment to the thriving arts scene in Central Florida. Whether you made a gift, spread the word, or championed FSYO’s mission your own way - THANK YOU!

Meet Kate! She has been playing violin since kindergarten and has stuck with it for 13 years! What began as something that felt required became much more. Encouraged by her teacher and her family, Kate stayed the course even when it was not easy. That willingness to keep going led her to FSYO, and like many of our students, she quickly realized this experience was something different. “When I started, it was harder than I thought it was going to be. Everyone is there because they want to be. That environment where everyone wants the same thing as you, it's been really invaluable in my music education.” FSYO is more than just rehearsals and concerts. It’s real-world experience. It’s connection. It’s confidence. And for Kate, it was only possible because of scholarship support. “If I hadn’t gotten any scholarship at all, I wouldn’t have been able to do it,” she told us. “I wouldn’t have had all of these opportunities.” As we look ahead, our commitment remains the same: to ensure that students like Kate, talented, dedicated, and eager to grow, have access to these life-changing experiences, regardless of financial circumstance. Because Central Florida is full of talented students ready to grow, ready to lead, and ready to discover what’s possible. Today, your donation to FSYO will unlock matching funds through the United Arts Collaborative Campaign and help support students like Kate continue their music education. You can make a gift today by heading to this link: https://lnkd.in/ep398E6m #WhenArtThrivesWeAllThrive #CollaborativeCampaign United Arts of Central Florida

FSYO Music Director, Mr. Charles Watford, has shared that there are moments in a music educator’s life when a young musician steps forward and reminds you why organizations like Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras exist. Not simply because of talent, but because of passion and dedication. Because of what is possible when a student is given the opportunity, the challenge, and the support to truly develop. That is the work at the heart of FSYO. Anderson is one of many students who reflect that mission. In his very first season with FSYO and in just the 10th grade, he earned the role of Principal French Horn in our Symphonic Orchestra, an achievement that speaks not only to his musical ability, but to his willingness to rise to a challenge. Now in his second season, he continues to grow as both a musician and a leader, serving as President of our Student Engagement Council. Without access to an orchestra program at his high school, FSYO has become his outlet and a place where he can connect with music and with a community of peers who share that same commitment. This kind of transformation is made possible by you. Your support creates access to experiences that students like Anderson would not otherwise have: the chance to perform at the highest level, to travel, to learn from professionals, and to be part of a community that challenges and inspires them. When you invest in FSYO, you are not simply supporting a program. You are opening doors, expanding horizons, and shaping the lives of young people. Today, your donation to FSYO will unlock matching funds through the United Arts Collaborative Campaign and help support students like Anderson continue their music education. You can make a gift today by heading to this link: https://lnkd.in/ep398E6m #WhenArtThrivesWeAllThrive #CollaborativeCampaign United Arts of Central Florida

FSYO Parent, Sheila, knows how much FSYO has helped her daughter Brynn, but she also sees that it makes a positive difference in the lives of many students and their communities. "FSYO assumes that young musicians are capable of more. It honors their talent without diminishing their age. There is a seriousness to the work - rehearsals are focused, expectations are high - but there is also joy. Growth is the goal. Not perfection, but growth. That combination is rare and powerful." Music education builds discipline, resilience, collaboration, and confidence. A donor’s generosity allows a young musician not only to learn notes, but to experience what it feels like to belong to something larger than themselves. Sheila shared that one of her favorite memories happens every concert when she brings someone new to an FSYO concert. They are blown away by the talent of the students, but then they open up about their own stories and experiences with the arts and music. "I did not fully realize how many people carry music in their memories until Brynn joined FSYO." Today, your donation to FSYO will unlock matching funds through the United Arts Collaborative Campaign and help support students like Brynn continue their music education. You can make a gift today by heading to this link: https://lnkd.in/ep398E6m #WhenArtThrivesWeAllThrive #CollaborativeCampaign United Arts of Central Florida

Presented by Orlando Utilities Commission (OUC - The Reliable One), FSYO's 69th Season Play-a-thon Event is one you will not want to miss! Featuring all eight of FSYO's ensembles, this FREE event will have something for everybody! This performance is the culmination of a six week fundraising period where FSYO's entire organization gets involved to fundraise as a team! The event also features food trucks, a dunk tank, and a silent auction with exciting community-donated prizes, making it a festive and interactive experience for families and supporters of all ages! 📅March 8, 2026 🕑11:00am - 3:00pm 📍Walt Disney Amphitheater at Lake Eola Park 🎶This event is FREE and open to the public! This event is sponsored in part by the City of Orlando and the Orlando Community Redevelopment Agency (Downtown Orlando). Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras is funded in part by the Orange County Government through the Arts and Cultural Affairs Program

Today, we’re proud to highlight three FSYO alumni, the Licitra siblings. Their individual musical journeys through FSYO and into adulthood show how the arts build confidence, foster meaningful connections, and support lifelong success. While each path is unique, together they reflect the lasting impact made possible by your support. Alyssa, the oldest of three musical siblings, joined FSYO in 6th grade in the Philharmonia Orchestra and continued through the Symphonic Orchestra until graduating high school in 2005. Today, she is a sixth-grade language arts teacher in Seminole County and shares her love of music at home with her own young children, introducing them to orchestral music and instruments as they grow. While she now enjoys music more casually, her hope is that FSYO continues inspiring future students and that one day she’ll be in the audience watching her own children perform, just as her parents once did. Melina joined Overture Strings soon after Alyssa joined FSYO, continuing with FSYO throughout middle and high school as a violinist. FSYO became more than an orchestra for her. It was a community where she built friendships beyond school, including meeting her now-husband, Brian, on an FSYO Tour to Washington D.C. when she was just 13. After moving back to Orlando, they are now introducing music to their own children, with their oldest already studying cello and another eager to begin violin. Giancarlo, the youngest of the Licitra siblings, started playing the cello at age 4 after being inspired by a family friend. With no orchestra available in their schools, FSYO became the family’s musical home, and Giancarlo joined Philharmonia Orchestra as soon as he could. Today, Giancarlo is completing his training to become a cardiologist and says he sees both music and medicine as art forms of sorts. Music continues to play a role in his life as a hobby, with classical music often filling his home and a young son who is already showing interest in string instruments. Together, the Licitra siblings’ stories show how FSYO’s impact extends far beyond the concert hall by shaping lives, families, and futures for generations to come. #FSYOImpact #AlumniSpotlight

Last night, FSYO was honored to attend the Orange County Government ACT Awards celebrating Arts and Cultural Tourism. Orange County’s Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs recognized nearly 40 organizations last night awarding cultural tourism grants funded by the Tourist Development Tax. FSYO was fortunate to be recognized as a first time grant recipient! We are so lucky to be in a county that supports, invests, and promotes the arts in our community!