Orlando, FL - July 17, 2025 - After two weeks visiting various cities across Japan, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras Tour Ensembles have returned to Florida, enriched by lasting memories and an appreciation for Japanese culture. The tour began with an early start, followed by nearly a full day of travel, including a fourteen-hour flight to Tokyo. Tour members traveled with packed suitcases and numerous instruments, ready to begin their musical journey through Japan.
FSYO Tour gets ready at the airport!
Our first stop on tour was Urayasu City, the sister city of Orlando. In collaboration with the Urayasu Youth Orchestra, Akemi Junior High School Orchestra, the Urayasu International Friendship Association, and Urayasu City, FSYO organized a joint performance with these Japanese ensembles. The concert featured both FSYO’s Tour Jazz Band and Tour Orchestra, alongside joint performances with the Urayasu Youth Orchestra and the Akemi Junior High School Orchestra. These collaborative performances provided valuable opportunities for FSYO tour members and Japanese students to interact, collaborate, and learn from one another.
FSYO and the Urayasu Youth Orchestra.
Each FSYO tour member presented their Japanese stand partner with a gift to commemorate the performance and exchange. The Urayasu orchestra members also reciprocated by giving FSYO tour members small tokens to mark the occasion. Additionally, FSYO Executive Director Abigail Tran presented the City of Urayasu with a letter from Mayor Buddy Dyer, along with small gifts from FSYO. In return, FSYO received a letter and tokens for Mayor Buddy Dyer to acknowledge this historic first collaboration between FSYO and our sister city in Japan.
FSYO after the joint Urayasu Youth Orchestra performance.
FSYO is honored to have represented Orlando during this cultural exchange and to have been featured in several articles in Japanese newspapers and websites. The Urayasu Youth Orchestra highlighted our performance in an article published on their website. As our tour continued, we were pleased with the successful start and the memorable experiences we shared in our sister city.
Our next destination on tour took us through Nagoya City and concluded with an evening performance by the Kyoto Symphony Orchestra. The day included visits to several historic landmarks, such as the Imperial Palace, Shinagawa Station, and the Aichi Prefectural Arts Theater Concert Hall. FSYO Tours are designed to offer our students meaningful cultural experiences that will benefit them throughout their careers and personal lives.
FSYO Tour Members exploring Nagoya City and Kyoto.
The next stop on our tour brought us to the beautiful city of Gifu, where FSYO members had the opportunity to perform alongside students from Gifu University. This musical exchange provided yet another meaningful chance for our musicians to connect with their Japanese peers, share in rehearsal and performance, and experience the joy of making music across cultures.
Although we encountered some technical difficulties with the livestream, the full performance was recorded and is available to watch on our YouTube channel. This performance featured a beautiful venue in Salamanca Symphony Hall, renowned for its full size pipe organ and architectural design that provides excellent acoustics for classical performances.
FSYO and Gifu University.
Our final stop on tour brought us to Hiroshima, where we concluded our performance journey with two concerts. The first featured a collaboration with the talented young musicians of the Higashihiroshima City Kurara Junior Orchestra which marked our final joint performance of the tour. Throughout our time in Japan, we have been incredibly fortunate to partner with so many inspiring youth orchestras, and this final collaboration was a fitting celebration of everything we have shared and learned.
To close out our performances, FSYO’s Tour Jazz Band took the stage at the Himawari Plaza, performing for a young and enthusiastic audience. One of the highlights of the evening was a special moment when the audience joined in a traditional Japanese song. This was a fun interactive experience that perfectly captured the spirit of cultural exchange and connection. What a wonderful way to bring our musical journey in Japan to a close!
FSYO and the Kurari Junior Orchestra.
FSYO’s final performance in Hiroshima.
With just a few days remaining in Japan, our tour members continued to explore the rich cultural and historical landmarks the country has to offer. From temples to local wildlife, members made the most of the opportunity to immerse themselves in the experience. This included a trip to a local Jazz Club where some of our Tour Jazz members took part in a local jam session. Our members improvised with local jazz musicians and performed for a packed club.
As our members return to the United States, they carry with them lasting memories that will inspire their musical journeys. After reflecting on an eventful season and summer, we are looking forward to the upcoming season and the new memories we will make on future tours!
FSYO at Nara Park.
FSYO Tour Jazz members performing as part of a local jam session.
For even more photos and videos from our tour to Japan, be sure to check out our Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube pages!
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