FORT MYERS, Fla. (Aug. 23, 2023) – The Southwest Florida Symphony, Lee County’s only professional orchestra and the fourth oldest in the state, is holding auditions for its Youth Orchestra on Saturday, Aug. 26. Auditions will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at The Heights Center at 15570 Hagie Dr., Fort Myers. Individual audition times will be assigned up registration.
Full audition details are available at swflso.org/youth-orchestra.
The Youth Orchestra is an advanced level orchestra conducted by Roland Forti. Forti earned his bachelor’s degree in music education and music performance from the Bower School of Music at Florida Gulf Coast University and currently serves as the orchestra and chorus director at Oakridge Middle School, conductor of the Naples Summer Music Camp and the chair of the Florida All-State Orchestra. Select students in the Youth Orchestra may also be privately coached and participate in youth ensembles performing at various public events during the concert season.
Professional musical instruction, coaching and performance opportunities are also available to elementary, middle and high school music students in the community through a partnership with the Southwest Florida Symphony and The Heights Center MOSAIC, or Musical Opportunities Supporting the Arts in Our Community, program. MOSAIC is the only program of its kind to offer a full symphony orchestra experience to students. As students grow and become more accomplished at their chosen instrument, they advance to the MOSAIC intermediate level orchestra which is conducted by Katrina Rozmus. Rozmus is a violinist and violist with a bachelor’s and master’s degree in violin performance mainly under the tutelage of Andres Cardenes, the former concertmaster of the Pittsburgh Symphony.
The Southwest Florida Symphony made its debut as a community orchestra on April 15, 1961, playing in schools and community centers, with a roster of only 24 volunteer musicians. Today, the symphony boasts a roster of 70 world-class professional musicians and is Lee County’s only fully professional orchestra and fourth oldest in the state. The Southwest Florida Symphony’s 63rd year continues the orchestra’s tradition of artistic excellence and innovation as Music Director Maestro Radu Paponiu leads another season of spectacular performances. Maestro Paponiu, the sixth music director in the organization’s history, also serves as the associate conductor and youth orchestra director for the Naples Philharmonic in addition to guest-conducting with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe.
For more information about the Southwest Florida Symphony, upcoming season performances and subscription and ticketing information, visit swflso.org or call 239-418-1500.
Contacts:
Amy Ginsburg, Southwest Florida Symphony, 239-418-0996, [email protected]
Angela Bell, Gravina, Smith, Matte & Arnold Marketing and PR, 239-275-5758, [email protected]
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