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The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is Central Florida's resident orchestra, appearing in more than 125 performances each season. The Philharmonic‘s mission is to foster and promote symphonic music through excellence in performance, education and cultural leadership. The Orlando Philharmonic proudly enters its 16th anniversary in the 2008-2009 season.
In 2008, Christopher Wilkins begins his third season as Music Director. Andrew Lane continues in his role as Principal Pops and Resident Conductor.
The flagship series of the Orlando Philharmonic is the Super Series. This series is comprised of ten concerts, featuring the best of classics and pops, and includes five matinee performances to offer patrons even more entertainment options. From a fanfare celebration featuring the music of Tchaikovsky and Shostakovich to an evening reveling in the best of Brahms; from the artistry of pianist Andre Watts to a program of music by the incomparable John Williams; from a semi-staged musical version of Sweeney Todd featuring Broadway star Davis Gaines to an evening of Swing with Michael Andrew and Swingerhead, the Philharmonic's Super Series offers something for everyone! The Orlando Philharmonic's five-concert Sounds of Summer Series has become a Central Florida tradition. This popular chamber music series highlights the musicians of the Philharmonic with diverse programs of fabulous music. The Philharmonic's four-concert Focus Series programs focus on a single theme and feature works of a variety of composers, highlighting the best of the chamber orchestra repertoire in an interesting "in the round" setting. Discourse from the conductor enhances the music with an educational element. Additionally, the Orlando Philharmonic performs approximately 22 full-orchestra outdoor fall and spring community pops concerts. Performed in partnerships with municipalities throughout the region, these concerts are offered at no cost to the public. The Philharmonic also serves as the resident orchestra for Orlando Opera and Orlando Ballet.
As an educational resource, the Orlando Philharmonic annually performs 30 Young People's Concerts for over 60,000 Orange, Seminole, and Volusia County Public School, private, and home school students at the Bob Carr Performing Arts Centre. Thanks to a generous grant from the Darden Restaurants Foundation, the Philharmonic has created the now popular Darden Family Series. Designed to de-mystify the world of classical music, this series is complete with family oriented pre-concert educational materials, interactive pre-concert lobby stations, instrument petting zoos and interactive concert elements. The Philharmonic's program for pre-school age children, Tiny Tots, is now in its 7th season. This program, which is presented in four area nursery schools, provides an introduction to the world of classical music in a format that is entertaining, educational and fun. Additionally, the Philharmonic hosts an annual Young Composer's Challenge. Open to aspiring composers ages 13 – 18 in the Southeastern United States, this program provides students with an extensive workshop with renowned composers, followed by a composition challenge for orchestral and chamber works. Winning compositions are performed by the Orlando Philharmonic, and winning composers receive cash prizes.
A hallmark of the Philharmonic's success has been a commitment to financial stewardship. At over $3 million, the Orlando Philharmonic has one of the largest endowments of any cultural institution in Central Florida. Nonetheless, as we move into the Dr. P. Phillips Performing Arts Centre in 2012, the Board of Directors recognizes that a major endowment campaign is a priority in the near future.
The Philharmonic strives to initiate community collaborations. Since its inception, the orchestra has partnered with the Orlando Opera, Orlando Ballet, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Florida Young Artists Orchestra, the Orlando Museum of Art, the Orlando Science Center, Bethune Cookman University, the University of Central Florida, Stetson University, the "Negro Spiritual" Scholarship Foundation, Mad Cow Theatre, the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, the Orange County Regional History Center and many other prominent organizations.
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