Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra
Central Florida's resident professional orchestra, presenting symphonic, pops, chamber, educational, operatic, and community performances.
Last updated August 22, 2026
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Overview
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra is a professional symphony orchestra based in Orlando, Florida, and a principal presenter of orchestral music in Central Florida. Founded in 1993, it serves as the region's resident professional orchestra, drawing musicians from around the world and presenting a broad program of concerts and educational activities. Its work combines traditional symphonic repertoire with accessible popular programming, chamber music, opera collaborations, outdoor events, and performances designed for young audiences. The orchestra's principal concert activity has historically been organized around a Super Series running from autumn through spring. This programming has combined classical concerts with pops performances featuring music from Broadway, film, and popular culture. Major symphonic concerts have been presented at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, including performances in Steinmetz Hall. The orchestra has also maintained chamber-oriented programming through its Focus Series at The Plaza Live, while its Sounds of Summer Series provides smaller-scale concerts during the summer months and often highlights programs developed by the orchestra's own musicians. Public access and regional engagement are central to the orchestra's operating model. In addition to ticketed concerts, it presents outdoor fall and spring community pops performances in partnership with municipalities across the region, with many of these events offered free to the public. Its education work includes Young People's Concerts for students in Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties. The orchestra has reported presenting approximately 30 such concerts for more than 60,000 students across public, private, and home-school settings. The Orlando Philharmonic has also worked with arts, educational, and cultural institutions throughout Central Florida. Its collaborations have included opera and ballet organizations, youth orchestras, museums, science and history institutions, universities, theaters, and music festivals. These partnerships extend the orchestra's role beyond a conventional concert presenter and connect orchestral music with dance, theater, visual art, science, local history, and music education. Opera has been another component of its programming. The orchestra has presented concert versions of major works including Carmen and Porgy and Bess in 2010, La Bohème in 2011, and Rigoletto in 2012. Such projects have allowed the orchestra to support large-scale vocal and theatrical repertoire without operating as a fully staged opera company. During the 2021–2022 season, the orchestra marked its 29th anniversary and was led by music director Eric Jacobsen, who was identified as being in his fourth season in that role. The organization remains an active cultural institution serving the Orlando area through recurring concert series, artistic collaborations, education, and community performances.
History
The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra was founded in 1993 to serve as a resident professional orchestra for Orlando and Central Florida. From its beginning, the organization developed as a performing ensemble with a regional service mission, recruiting musicians internationally and presenting concerts for audiences in and around Orlando. Its programming has developed across several complementary areas. The orchestra's main Super Series has traditionally operated from September through April and has combined classical repertoire with pops concerts. Classical programs have included works presented with guest conductors and soloists, while pops programs have drawn on Broadway, cinema, and popular music. The series has been associated with the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, including Steinmetz Hall. Alongside its principal series, the orchestra has presented chamber music through the Focus Series at The Plaza Live. A seasonal extension, the Sounds of Summer Series, has offered performances during June, July, and August, including programs assembled by members of the orchestra. These smaller programs have complemented the large symphonic concerts and provided additional opportunities for musicians and audiences to engage with less expansive repertoire. The orchestra has also pursued opera in concert form. Its documented projects include Carmen and Porgy and Bess in 2010, La Bohème in 2011, and Rigoletto in 2012. These productions placed the orchestra in collaboration with vocal artists and opera partners while broadening its artistic activity beyond instrumental symphonic concerts. Education and community access have remained important parts of the institution's history. The Orlando Philharmonic has presented Young People's Concerts for students from Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties, reaching public-school, private-school, and home-school audiences. It has also presented free outdoor fall and spring pops concerts through partnerships with municipalities in the surrounding region. The organization has maintained an extensive network of collaborations with local and regional cultural and educational bodies. Partners identified in reference material include the Orlando Opera, Orlando Ballet, Florida Symphony Youth Orchestra, Florida Young Artists Orchestra, Orlando Museum of Art, Orlando Science Center, Bethune-Cookman University, University of Central Florida, Stetson University, the Negro Spiritual Scholarship Foundation, Mad Cow Theatre, the Bach Festival Society of Winter Park, and the Orange County Regional History Center. By the 2021–2022 season, the orchestra was celebrating its 29th anniversary and was under the artistic leadership of music director Eric Jacobsen, then in his fourth season with the ensemble. The Orlando Philharmonic's continuing identity is that of a regional professional orchestra whose activities combine concert performance, education, artistic collaboration, and public service.
- 2021
29th anniversary season
[1]The 2021–2022 season marked the orchestra's 29th anniversary, with Eric Jacobsen serving in his fourth season as music director.
- 2012
Rigoletto concert performance
[1]The orchestra presented Rigoletto in concert.
- 2011
La Bohème concert performance
[1]The orchestra presented La Bohème as part of its concert opera activity.
- 2010
Concert opera programming expands
[1]The orchestra presented concert versions of Carmen and Porgy and Bess.
- 1993
Orchestra founded
[1]The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra was established as a professional resident orchestra serving Orlando and Central Florida.
Products and positioning
Professional orchestra and regional cultural institution combining high-level symphonic performance with accessible pops programming, education, opera, chamber music, and community engagement.
Main concert series
Super Series
The orchestra's principal seasonal concert offering, traditionally running from September through April. It has combined classical symphonic programs with pops concerts, including repertoire associated with Broadway musicals, films, and popular music. Performances have been presented at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, including Steinmetz Hall.
Chamber music
Focus Series
A chamber music series presented at The Plaza Live in Orlando. It provides a more intimate setting than the orchestra's full symphonic concerts and forms part of the ensemble's broader effort to present varied repertoire and showcase its musicians.
Seasonal chamber music
Sounds of Summer Series
A summer counterpart to the chamber-oriented Focus Series, scheduled during June, July, and August. Programs have been compiled by the orchestra's musicians and provide smaller-scale performances outside the main autumn-to-spring season.
Education
Young People's Concerts
Educational full-orchestra performances for students in Orange, Seminole, and Volusia counties. The program has served public-school, private-school, and home-school students and has been described as reaching more than 60,000 students through approximately 30 concerts.
Opera performance · 2010
Concert Opera
Concert presentations of major operatic works performed with vocal collaborators. Documented repertoire includes Carmen, Porgy and Bess, La Bohème, and Rigoletto, extending the orchestra's artistic scope beyond purely instrumental programming.
Community performance
Outdoor Community Pops Concerts
Free or publicly accessible outdoor fall and spring pops performances presented in partnership with municipalities throughout the Central Florida region. The programs are designed to bring orchestral music into community settings beyond formal concert halls.
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