Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus Association

The mission of the Southwest Florida Symphony is to present outstanding music for the entertainment, enrichment and education of the broadest possible public. We accomplish this mission by providing the highest caliber of professional symphonic performances, made accessible to the entire community and beyond. The Symphony employs an internationally acclaimed music director/conductor, 70 world-class musicians and brings exemplary guest artists to lee county. A professional Symphony Orchestra is the cornerstone of arts and culture in any community. Through its ever- expanding footprint and rich history in Southwest Florida, the Southwest Florida Symphony significantly enhances the quality of the community. The Southwest Florida Symphony also provides educational opportunities for children of all ages, up to and including college students and adults, through its broad educational programs. Majors for minors is a program that marries donor engagement with "reverse field trips," brining professional orchestral ensembles to elementary schools throughout lee county. This program is primarily funded through individual donors who are invited to attend these schools in order to see their investment in the Symphony work. In addition to establishing and deepening those relationships, majors and minors fills the arts education void left by reduced or eliminated governmental funding for those programs and enhances standard curriculum. The Symphony's youth Orchestra programs provide public performance opportunities, team building skilss and instrumental instruction delivered by the Orchestra's professional musicians to 100 students ranging from 6th to 12th grade each school year. Other lifelong learning opportunities include the Symphony's annual young people's concert, which is a field trip that brings lee county 5th graders to barbara b. mann performing arts hall each spring for a full symphonic performance experience. Other education initiatives include conductor and guest artist led pre-concert lectures, free tickets for disadvantaged community members, 5 student rush tickets, the discovery club program, which provides member students and two guests with 5 concert tickets and master classes offered by visiting guest artists at local high schools, colleges and universities. The Symphony brings performances, education and outreach initiatives to every corner of lee county within its power to ensure that professional symphonic music is available to everyone who desires access, regardless of ability to pay admission or travel to performances, bringing the history of music to life for everyone within its reach.