For the 2019-2020 season, 5 composer residencies were established between CF2 composers and ensembles that comprise the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestras.
Five CF2 composers wrote new pieces specifically tailored to the young musicians in the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra. The composers worked directly with their performers, giving each the opportunity to learn from the other. This year, the theme was “Pulse,” and the composers were told to interpret that word however they saw fit (they could reflect on the tragic loss of 49 lives in the Orlando Pulse shooting, but pulse is also a musical term and the very human term referring to our hearts pumping blood through our bodies). Three of the pieces, by Ryan McQuinn, Timothy Stulman, and Alex Burtzos, were premiered in February 2020. Two more premieres, by Brandon Martin and Scott Dickinson, were postponed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. New performance dates will be posted when the events are rescheduled.
This year’s theme for the composer residency with FSYO was “Pulse,” in support of our LGBTQ+ community. Before the premiere, Ryan McQuinn takes a few minutes to talk about his inspiration and compositional process for creating his piece for the FSYO.
Here is the final performance of Ryan McQuinn’s piece for the FSYO (Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra) at their concert in February 2020. The piece is entitled “49 Doves” and pays tribute to those that were lost at the Pulse tragedy.
Timothy Stulman in collaboration with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, debuts his piece, “Pulsations,” with the Prelude Orchestra. Soloists include George on Violin and Selina on Cello, under the leadership of Sarah Morrison. Enjoy!
Alex Burtzos collaborated with the Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra under the theme of “Pulse” to create music to pay tribute to those that were lost during the Pulse tragedy. Under the leadership of Maestro Matthew Davis, the Philhamonia orchestra from FSYO debuts Alex’s piece.