The best young instrumentalists in the province from all backgrounds have the unique opportunity to gain invaluable professional experience by playing in the Free State Youth Orchestra and the Free State Youth Ensemble, managed by the Free State Symphony Orchestra, a section 18A compliant NGO, since 2009.

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The FSYO takes pride in being a part of music education and the promotion of orchestral playing at the highest level for the young musicians of Bloemfontein and hopefully the Free State as a whole.

The FSYO under the guidance of the FSSO has partnered with the Odeion School of Music, Odeion String Quartet and the University of the Free State to create a learning experience that will give our learners the opportunity to follow a seamless path in music education.

This entails working within their school programs, complemented by training and exposure to a high-level youth orchestra that utilizes the students at the OSM and UFS, leading them to continue their musical training and ultimately giving them the potential to play in the FSSO, the premiere Professional orchestra in Central South Africa.

The Youth Orchestra aims to perform a minimum of 4 concerts a year, all of which are free, and participate in numerous community-orientated outreach programs throughout the year, which can only be possible through funding as it relies only on uncertain National Lottery Commission funding every 3 years. 

Click here to find out more about the orchestra.