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Elizabeth Hicklin Today, we announce the departure of one of our long time conductors. We will miss Mrs. Elizabeth Hicklin and wish her nothing but the best.

"It is with great sadness that I announce my resignation as Prelude Orchestra conductor at the conclusion of the 2012-2013 season. I have enjoyed every moment as a conductor during the past 11 years. I have learned more from the students, parents, conductors and staff than I could ever imagine and have made lifelong friends. It was always my dream to become a youth orchestra conductor and I am so honored that it was with the FSYO! I’d like to thank all of the students who shared their time and music with me during 11 straight seasons! I look forward to continuing a wonderful relationship with the FSYO by attending concerts and hopefully conducting sectionals from time to time. I promise---I won’t be a stranger to the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra! Over half of my life has been spent with this organization (11 as a conductor and 7 as a student). I know firsthand the importance of music education in a persons’ life and will support the FSYO’s efforts for years to come. Thank you for the opportunity to work with your students!" - Elizabeth Hicklin, Prelude Conductor

"We're sorry to say goodbye to Elizabeth Napier Hicklin as conductor of our Prelude Orchestra. She has a long history with FSYO, as a student violinist and on our staff. Her dedication to music education and her rapport with students have served the many young musicians she has mentored so well. We will miss her, but look forward to seeing her in the future for sectionals and guest conducting. Elizabeth will always be a valued member of the FSYO family." - Donna McCue, Board President

"I have known Elizabeth since she was in high school and concert master of the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. It has been my pleasure to observe as she developed into a first class musician and leader. Under her baton, the Prelude Orchestra has become an essential part of our youth orchestra program. Her dedication to music and the young musicians of FSYO has been nothing less than inspiring. She will be missed but her contribution will never be forgotten." - Andrew Lane, Music Director

Matthew Davis 1 Matthew Davis is currently Director of Strings at the Lois Cowles Harrison Center for the Visual and Performing Arts in Lakeland, Florida. In addition to conducting the Harrison Symphony and Chamber Orchestra, Mr. Davis also teaches music theory, music composition, and chamber music. Under his direction, the Harrison Symphony Orchestra was selected to perform at the 2007 Midwest Band and Orchestra Clinic in Chicago and the 2010 Festival des Anches in La Croix Valmer, France. Currently, Mr. Davis is on the faculty of the Florida State University Summer Music Camps, where he co-conducts the Symphony String, Guarneri and Chamber orchestras. An active All-County clinician, Mr. Davis has conducted middle school and high school honors orchestras in Tampa, Fort Myers, and Naples, Florida as well as San Antonio, Texas. Mr. Davis holds a Master of Music Education from Florida State University and a Bachelor of Music in cello performance from Indiana University.

Mr. Davis was recently awarded a Surdna Arts Teachers Fellowship to travel to the Netherlands to study Baroque cello at the Conservatorium van Amsterdam. He has also been named Harrison School for the Arts Teacher of the Year for 2011-12. Previously, Mr. Davis served as Director of Orchestras at Denton High School in Denton, Texas, during which time his orchestra was named first runner-up in the Texas Honor Orchestra Competition. In 2004, Mr. Davis was presented with the Marjorie Keller Young Teacher Award by the Texas chapter of the American String Teachers Association.

This past weekend on Sunday March 17, 2013, the students put on a wonderful performance during The Children Helping Children Concert; an annual performance geared to introducing young community members to classical music. Special recognition goes out to the concerto finalists, Amber Yang on piano and Hannah Lindvall on violin. Amber played Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major K. 414 and currently plays 1st violin for Philharmonia Orchestra. She also succeeds in school, being a straight "A" student. Hannah was featured in Kabalevsky's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra. Well rounded in the arts, Hannah sings and dances as well.

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Amber Yang prior to performing Piano Concerto No. 12 in A Major K. 414 with FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra.

Hannah Lindvall performing Kabalevsky's Concerto for Violin and Orchestra.

This year, FSYO had the pleasure to partner with The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. This is a local nonprofit organization that aims to end hunger in the greater Orlando area. We certainly assisted them towards reaching this goal with our Children Helping Children concert. Our dedicated students and guests were able to supply a total of 1,029 lbs of food- the equivalent of 686 meals!

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Students from FSYO's Symphonic Orchestra celebrate a successful community partnership!

The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra aims to educate and inspire Central Florida's top young musicians via programs committed to strengthening musical talents and developing appreciation of the arts through classical music. The FSYO, in its 56th Concert Season, comprises three full orchestras, one string training orchestra and various chamber groups, made up of more than 250 students from eight Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Lee, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Highlands and Volusia. Programs are sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Darden Restaurant Foundation; Universal Orlando Foundation; and United Arts of Central Florida. We thank these groups for their generous support. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org.

img 0591 resize The Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra is now accepting applications for the 57th concert season beginning in August 2013. The FSYO focuses on educating, inspiring and encouraging young musicians in Central Florida.

FSYO auditions are for standard orchestral instruments and are held annually for both new and returning members. Each ensemble has a limited number of spots and an audition does not guarantee placement in FSYO. Acceptance and orchestra placement is a competitive, merit-based process in which auditionees must meet requirements for consideration.Praised as one of the top youth orchestras in the country, the FSYO seeks dedicated, talented young musicians from around Central Florida to join one of four orchestras.

FSYO students will enjoy a rich educational experience during Sunday rehearsals, and varied concert experiences throughout the year. Ninety percent of FSYO alumni advance to college, many at some of the finest music schools in the country, including the Julliard School of Music, Eastman School of Music, Oberlin Conservatory, and New England Conservatory.

Auditions require that students prepare a specific excerpt posted on the FSYO website (FSYO.org) for the orchestra for which they are auditioning, as well as a one-minute solo of their choice and scales as listed. Applications for the 2013-2014 season are due by April 19, 2013.

The FSYO, currently in its 56th Concert Season, comprises three full orchestras, one string training orchestra and various chamber groups, made up of more than 250 students from eight Central Florida counties, including Orange, Osceola, Lee, Seminole, Brevard, Lake, Highlands and Volusia. Programs are sponsored in part by the Florida Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs; the Florida Council on Arts and Culture; Darden Restaurant Foundation; Universal Orlando Foundation; and United Arts of Central Florida. We thank these groups for their generous support. The FSYO is a non-profit 501(c)(3) charitable organization. For more information, please visit www.fsyo.org.

2012-13 FSYO Concert Poster Children Helping Children FSYO's March 17, 2013, Symphonic Orchestra Concert Geared to Younger Ears

The Children Helping Children Concert on Sunday, March 17, 2013, will feature the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra's pre-professional Symphonic Orchestra in an annual performance geared to introducing young community members to classical music.

This year, we are proud to announce that FSYO will be partnering with The Second Harvest Food Bank of Central Florida. This is a local nonprofit organization that aims to end hunger in the greater Orlando area. They provide several services to families in need such as emergency food pantries, low income daycare centers, and soup kitchens. FSYO is suggesting that each concert attendee donate some nonperishable food items in order to support the Second Harvest Food Bank. For more information on their organization, please visit www.foodbankcentralflorida.org.

The concert will take place at 3 p.m. at College Park Baptist Church, 1914 Edgewater Drive. Tickets range from $8 to $16 and are available now through The Red Chair Project (www.redchairproject.com), or by calling the FSYO office at 407.999.7800. This concert is part of the Season Subscription Package.

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We are happy to welcome Erin Winget Hoyer to our team! Find out more about Erin below.

Erin Winget Hoyer came to the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra in January 2013 as the Member Relations Coordinator. A North Carolina native, Erin earned her BA from Wake Forest University in 2006. She moved to the Central Florida area in 2012 with her husband Jacob. Erin brings to FSYO a broad background with several non-profits including Alexander Youth Network in Charlotte, NC. Working three years with Adventures in Missions, an international mission organization, Erin pioneered the logistics department for the World Race program. She has traveled to over 20 countries and is passionate about connecting people cross-culturally.

Erin is currently enrolled in the Rollins College Crummer Business School Executive Management Certification program. When she is not working with FSYO she can be found riding her horse Gusto and exploring all the outdoor adventures that Florida has to offer.

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FSYO Says Farewell to Elizabeth Hicklin

FSYO Welcomes New Prelude Conductor for 2013-2014 Season

Concerto's and Community

Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra Now Taking Audition Applications

FSYO to host Children Helping Children Concert

FSYO Welcomes Member Relations Coordinator