ORLANDO PHILHARMONIC ANNOUNCES FIVE FINALISTS FROM INTERNATIONAL MUSIC DIRECTOR SEARCH

Today, the Orlando Philharmonic announced five internationally renowned conductors who will vie for the position of Music Director during the orchestra’s  2014-2015 season. The finalists, in order of appearance, are Alondra De la Parra, Steven Jarvi, Eric Jacobsen, Dirk Meyer and Leslie B. Dunner. The orchestra plans to appoint one of these finalists as its new Music Director in the spring of 2015.

The five finalists were chosen by a search committee comprised of orchestra musicians and community members who spent 9 months screening a slate more than 275 candidates from around the world. Each finalist will spend approximately one week with the orchestra between September and March next season, conducting at least one classical program and making various community appearances. Each finalist will be evaluated by the search committee based on feedback orchestra musicians, audience members, leaders in the community, and ultimately, the Philharmonic’s board of directors.

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UNITED ARTS OF CENTRAL FLORIDA AWARDS MORE THAN $1.37 MILLION IN OPERATING SUPPORT GRANTS

The Board of United Arts of Central Florida approved the recommendations of three grant panels composed of 42 volunteer-reviewers to award $1,370,231 in operating support grants to 43 Central Florida nonprofit cultural institutions.

The Operating Support Grant program is one of more than six United Arts funding programs, including designated giving secured through the collaborative Campaign for the Arts and power2give.org; match dollars provided by United Arts’ Trustee; and corporate donors and contracts for services including educational programming. Ninety percent of today’s award is committed to Central Florida’s cornerstone cultural institutions. These include, in part, Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, Orlando Ballet, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Orlando Repertory Theatre, Orlando Science Center and Orlando Shakespeare Theater.

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