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Summer Camp 2012 – Make Your Plans to Attend!

The FYAO Summer Camp will be held again this June, beginning Monday, June 18 and continuing through Friday, June 22. The camp is open to all orchestra players of all levels – strings, brass, woodwinds and percussion – from ages 7 to 18. Students will be grouped based on their musical abilities, from All State participants to beginning orchestra students who have completed a Level 1 book and are able to read music. Once again, we will hold our Summer Camp at Trinity Preparatory School, located at 5700 Trinity Prep Lane, Winter Park, FL 32792. The fee is $250 per student, with a $25 discount for the second family member.

Daily activities include full orchestra rehearsals, chamber ensembles, sectional rehearsals, master classes and opportunities to perform. The camp runs from 9 am to 3 pm each day, with extended day options. There will be a free concert open to the public on Friday, June 22, the last day of Summer Camp. Students are asked to bring a sack lunch each day.

Our music faculty is first-rate! In addition to Dr. Gomez and Ross Amkraut, we will again have Routa Kroumovitch (Stetson Violin Professor and wife of Dr. Gomez) as one of our teachers.

If you have any questions, please contact our Executive Director, Teresa Borker, at (407) 257-8886 or fyao@fyao.org. Hope to see you there!

  Download Summer Camp Brochure Here

A Love for Music Builds Our Community

In February, the Florida Young Artists Orchestra was featured in The Briefs, a local magazine for the lawyers, judiciary and legal community of Orange County, Florida. FYAO Board Member Dale Burket, a lawyer by profession, musician and former public school music teacher, was invited to contribute an article for the February issue of “The Briefs”, which issue featured lawyers involved in the local arts community.

“A Love for Music Builds Our Community,” by Dale A. Burket, Esq., Lowndes Drosdick Doster Kantor & Reed, P.A. originally appeared in the Orange County Bar Association’s The Briefs, February 2012 Vol. 80 No.2. It is published here by permission of the Orange County Bar Association.

  Download the Article Here

Auditions for 2012-2013 Season – Sign up Now!

It’s time to begin preparing for your audition for the 2012-2013 season!  Auditions will be held on May 5, 12 and 19 at Trinity Preparatory School (5700 Trinity Prep Lane, Winter Park, FL).  Audition requirements can be found on our Auditions Page and a description of the process (with tips!) can be found on our Audition Process Page.  If you have questions regarding which of our four orchestras you should audition for, talk to one of our directors, or contact the FYAO office and we will have one of our directors contact you.  We are already planning next season’s music and activities, which will include other collaborative events like our very successful Concert from the Heart with the Orlando Concert Band.  All orchestral instruments are needed.

Contact the FYAO office at (407) 257-8886 or via email at fyao@fyao.org to secure an audition time now!

Download: FYAO Membership Application Here

Concerto Competition – Next Monday, January 16!

This coming Monday, January 16, twenty-four FYAO student musicians will compete in the FYAO’s annual Concerto Competition for a chance to perform as a soloist with one of the FYAO ensembles at the Virtuoso Concert in March.  Over the years, the Concerto Competition and subsequent Virtuoso Concert have been a season highlight, showcasing the talents of our own FYAO musicians. The competition helps raise the level of individual musicianship, as student musicians work hard to prepare important works from the standard repertoire for their instrument and orchestra.

Even though just a few musicians will win, there are many benefits of entering the competition for all participants. First, your level of musicianship can only increase if you work hard on performing a piece of music from the standard repertoire, especially if you work with a private teacher. Second, performance in competitions is one of the fastest ways to gain confidence in your own playing skills. Many of our winners have entered multiple times (without winning), but each time they compete, the learn a little more about what it takes to give a great performance. Third, the judging is completely independent, so where you sit in your orchestra is not a factor in your overall rating.

Each of our twenty-four competitors are to be commended for their effort and preparation.  They are already winners!

Concert from the Heart Marks Historic Meeting

The OCB rehearses with Conductor Jon Territo

For the first time ever in the FYAO’s history, the FYAO Symphony will share the stage with the Orlando Concert Band at the February Concert from the Heart (3pm at Trinity Preparatory School).  The Orlando Concert Band, formed in 1989, is a 50-member wind ensemble made up of professional and semi-professional musicians, many of which are local area music teachers.  The concert will feature separate performances by the FYAO Symphony and Camerata, and the Orlando Concert Band, as well as a stirring joint performance of the final movement of Ottorino Respighi’s Pines of Rome.  The concert is sure to be a crowd pleaser, and you won’t want to miss it!

The idea of a joint concert was conceived by our artistic staff, who have been working to find ways to collaborate with other ensembles and private music teachers.  Since Philharmonic Conductor Jon Territo also serves as Conductor of the Orlando Concert Band, the fit seemed like a natural one.  Also, one of the founding Directors of the FYAO, Jim Graber, is currently the President of the Orlando Concert Band.  In recent months, the FYAO has gained great student brass musicians through members of the OCB.

Dr. Gomez Returns from Chile

FYAO Artistic Director Alvaro Gomez completed his duties as Artistic Director of the prestigious XXXVIII International Competition of Musical Performance “Dr. Luis Sigall “, which was held between November 5 and 12 in Viña del Mar, Chile. This year’s competition was for cellists, and there were a total of 16 celliists representing thirteen countries.  In addition to Dr. Gomez’ duties as Artistic Director, he also conducted the orchestra which accompanied each of the competitors in a variety of concertos from the standard cello repertoire.

Several of the sixteen competing soloists had already won other international concerto competitions. Dr. Gomez said that the level of competition was incredibly high, and several cellists performed as well as some of the best professional artists he has ever heard. Gomez also said that there was an unusual camaraderie among the entrants, with each competitor encouraging the others to do their best.

The series of concerts were sold out every night. Contestants were required to perform multiple works as part of the competition process. The winner was 26 year old Xian Zhuo from China (who currently studies in the United States), followed by Alexey Zhilin from Russia and Mariusz Wysocki from Poland.  Dr. Gomez was also impressed by performances of the youngest participant, 18 year old Oleskey Shardrin from Ukraine.

Xian Zhuo received the First Prize “Izidor Handler”, with $10,000 and an invitation to perform two concerts with the Symphonic Orchestra of Chile, in February 2012 and a concert in the City of Santiago in Official Season 2012.

Immediately upon his return to the United States, Dr. Gomez began preparing for the Giving Thanks With Music Concert, which we all know was a huge success.  Dr. Gomez also had to prepare for a concert performance by two other of his ensembles, the Strings V class at Trinity Preparatory School and the Winter Park Chamber Music Academy.

Concerto Competition Application Deadline Extended to December 2

Due to Dr. Gomez’ time away from FYAO rehearsals for the cello competition in Chile, and at Dr. Gomez’ request, the deadline for entering the FYAO Concerto Competition has been extended to Friday, December 2.

All FYAO members are encouraged to enter. Over the years, the Concerto Competition and subsequent Virtuoso Concert has been a season highlight, showcasing the talents of our own FYAO musicians. The competition helps raise the level of musicianship, as student musicians work hard to prepare important works from the standard repertoire for their instrument and orchestra.

Even though just a few musicians will win, there are many benefits of entering the competition for all participants. First, your level of musicianship can only increase if you work hard on performing a piece of music from the standard repertoire, especially if you work with a private teacher. Second, performance in competitions is one of the fastest was to gain confidence in your own playing skills. Many of our winners have entered multiple times (without winning), but each time they compete, the learn a little more about what it takes to give a great performance. Third, the judging is completely independent, so where you sit in your orchestra is not a factor in your overall rating.

So, no matter whether you win the Concerto Competition or not, you win!  Click here to go to the Concerto Competition information page, and GOOD LUCK!

Dr. Gomez to Conduct Competition in Chile

Following Sunday’s FYAO rehearsals, Dr. Gomez and wife Routa left for Chile for the next two weeks.  Dr. Gomez will again act as Artistic Director of the prestigious XXXVIII International Competition of Musical Performance “Dr. Luis Sigall “, to be held between November 5 and 12 in Viña del Mar, Chile. This year’s competition is for cellists, and there are a total of 16 celliists representing thirteen countries. Routa will act as Concertmaster of the orchestra, which will be conducted by Dr. Gomez.  The following is information from the event’s website:

The president of the Cultural Corporation of Vina, Luis Bork said, “This contest is one of the cultural landmarks of our country, as great masters of music have launched their careers on it and there is no other event of this level from Mexico to the south of the continent.”

The participating artists are young virtuoso cellists of whose ages range between 18 and 27 years. The first two stages of the competition, scheduled from Saturday through Wednesday 5 November 9, will take place in the Central Hall of the Club in Vina del Mar, while the great final day will be held in the Hall of the Hotel Don Bernardo O’Higgins. For the second year, the Artistic Director of Competition will be Alvaro Gomez, a prominent Chilean-American violinist and conductor of wide international experience.

The eight cellists receiving the highest scores in the first round will advance to the final stage, scheduled for Tuesday, November 8 and Wednesday November 9. The competition winners will be chosen by leading musicians and scholars: Walevska Christine (USA), David Chew (England), Dmitry Eremin (Russia), Martin Osten (Germany), Emmanuel Lopez (USA), Eduardo Salgado (Chile) and Edgar Fischer (Chile).

The winner will receive the First Prize “Izidor Handler”, with $10,000 and an invitation to perform two concerts with the Symphonic Orchestra of Chile, in February 2012 and a concert in the City of Santiago in Official Season 2012. The Second Prize “I. Municipality of Viña del Mar” will consist of $ 4,000, while the Third Prize “Cultural Corporation of Viña del Mar” will be  $2,000.

This appointment for Dr. Gomez is a visible recognition of his international stature and abilities as a musician and conductor.  While Dr. Gomez is away at this event, rehearsals will continue!  Dr. Gomez asks that everyone continue to prepare their parts well for the upcoming concert, so that all will be ready when he returns!

Holiday Fundraiser Deadline!

The FYAO Holiday Evergreen Fundraiser is drawing to a close, and all order forms and monies are to be handed in this Sunday, October 23^rd at your regular rehearsal. We still have extra HGP order forms available for anyone who would like to have products shipped directly. Because Sunday is also Tim Kelly picture day, we know that there is a lot for everyone to remember: concert attire, picture order forms and fund-raising materials.  We suggest keeping your papers together to make it easier to remember everything

 Happy Fundraising!

Mila Makarova

FYAO Shows Strong at United Arts Event

Nominees, Routa celebrate with Margot Knight

The FYAO made a strong showing at the United Arts “Arts + Awards” event, held on Monday evening, October 3 at Sea World’s Ports of Call Convention Area. The annual event is intended to celebrate the local arts community, and to honor organizations and individuals who contribute positively to the community through art, dance, theater, music and a host of other performance arts. The event was hosted by Margot Knight, the outgoing President of United Arts. The evening’s program included performances by Michelee Puppets, Power Chords (a student vocal ensemble of the Orlando Repertory Theatre), Voci Dance, a local dance troupe, and ended with a rousing violin duo performance by our own Dr. Alvaro Gomez and his wife, Routa on behalf of the Bach Festival Society. Read more →