The Fairfax Symphony Orchestra is on the move--expanding programs to reach new audiences, meeting the evolving needs of county students, and collaborating with other arts institutions to assure a vibrant future. Founded as a volunteer orchestra in 1957--the Symphony’s business was conducted for years around board members' kitchen tables--FSO has now been a professional orchestra for half of its half century. Its seven-concert Masterworks Series mixes world-renowned artists with superb local musicians and tomorrow's young stars. And a unique in-school education program targets middle and high school bands and orchestras, emphasizing the role that music education plays in encouraging academic achievement. The SCORE program offers intensive master classes, individual sectional instruction, and “side by side” rehearsals. The Classical Kid’s Club reaches nearly one-third of the county’s 3rd to 6th grade students in a web-supported cultural literacy initiative that uses music to teach academic subjects. “In a league of its own,” declares the New York Times, and an “unusually fine (regional) orchestra” affirms the Washington Post. It's time to join in the applause.
IN THE MEDIA
Fairfax Symphony's Last Candidate Avoids WarhorsesPosted Mon May 4 2009 by Fairfax Symphony Orchestra A review of the sixth and final candidate for the FSO's music director position, Christopher Zimmerman. "And now we have the thinker. Each of the six candidates to become the new music director of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra has shown a distinctive style in his or her "audition concert." Christopher Zimmerman, the last of the group, put together the most unusual and thoughtful program, and then tried -- perhaps a little too hard -- to explain his reasoning to the audience at George Mason University's Center for the Arts on Saturday."
Chee-Yun: Violin Virtuoso Visits D.C.Posted Thu Apr 2 2009 by Fairfax Symphony Orchestra "Professional violinist and virtuoso Chee-Yun is just arriving at her hotel in Omaha, Nebraska, when I give her a call. Three days before she was playing with the Rhode Island Philharmonic and a few days before that: at New York’s Lincoln Center."
No Clear Front-Runner in Fairfax's Conductor SearchPosted Mon Mar 16 2009 by Fairfax Symphony Orchestra "Five-sixths of the way through the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra's season-long search for a new music director, there is not a front-running conductor to be seen. Or heard."
Invitation on American-Hungarian Executive Circle WebsitePosted Sat Mar 14 2009 by Fairfax Symphony Orchestra From the American-Hungarian Executive Circle
Showing Off in the FSO Conducting PlayoffPosted Mon Sep 22 2008 by Fairfax Symphony Orchestra No, it's not "American Idol," although it does have some of the flavor of "Star Search." The six finalists from among 249 applicants for the post of music director of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra are conducting one performance apiece this season. Each concert includes one concerto, one full-orchestra showpiece and one shorter work chosen by the candidate to reflect his or her special interests. Audience comments will be taken into account when management decides who takes over next year.
