Sinfonia Gulf Coast is excited to announce that registration is now open for the 2025-2026 Music Education programs. As the only program affiliated with a professional orchestra in the Emerald Coast region, the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra (SYO) offers student musicians unparalleled opportunities to enhance their musical talents and perform in a variety of ensembles throughout the school year under the mentorship of professional musicians.
Programs include the Advanced Symphonic Orchestra, for advanced (All-State level) middle and high school student musicians who play strings, winds, brass, and percussion; Intermediate Symphonic Orchestra for middle school students who play strings, winds, brass, and percussion; and Sinfonietta Strings, open to beginning string students. A pops group is also available to select students from the Advanced Symphonic Orchestra. The Sinfonietta and Intermediate Ensembles are looking for student piano accompanists as well.
Sinfonia’s After School Beginning Strings Programs have been highly successful and have led to over 100 students throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties discovering the love of strings in the program’s two years of implementation. This year, Sinfonia plans to expand programs into Dune Lakes, Freeport, and Antioch Elementary schools to join existing programs at Bluewater, Shalimar, Destin, and Van R. Butler Elementary Schools.
Joining the SYO program comes with numerous benefits. As an established professional orchestra, we bring our extensive experience and knowledge to successfully guide young musicians. SYO is in partnership with the only professional orchestra in the area, offering students hands-on teaching by experienced professionals. Members enjoy meaningful individual and small group mentoring by experienced sectional instructors, resident musicians lead by Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s esteemed music director/conductor, Demetrius Fuller.
The program is led by professional, approachable, energetic, and highly educated musicians, making it an enriching experience for all. Performances at Sinfonia Gulf Coast events feature A-list performers such as Time For Three, Brubeck Brothers Quartet, Patti LaBelle, Kristin Chenoweth, Bernadette Peters, and others providing high-caliber performance experiences.
High school students can earn Bright Futures volunteer hours at Sinfonia Gulf Coast and SYO events, adding another layer of benefit to their participation.
The program is designed to be accessible and affordable. Need-based scholarships are available by request. Rehearsals are scheduled on Sunday afternoons to accommodate busy school-week schedules, and members receive free tickets to each Sinfonia Gulf Coast main season concert.
SYO seniors can apply for the Grace Fulcher Memorial Scholarship, created in honor of Grace Bernice Fulcher, a former SYO member, and may be selected for the Exemplary Character or Exceptional Talent awards by the instructors.
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“We believe our youth orchestra programs foster a strong sense of community, allowing members to connect with like-minded fellow musicians in a safe, collaborative, and welcoming environment,” says Sinfonia Youth Orchestra director Margaret Gordon. “It is our goal to achieve high level performances while making sure every student is assisted in reaching their full potential as musicians.” Gordon also states, “It is an honor to be able to offer beginning strings instruction to students of Okaloosa and Walton Counties through our after-school programs. I am incredibly excited to welcome a potential 160 new students in our programs this year.”
Since its establishment in 2007, Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s music education programs have served over 220,000 children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties. As an SYO member, you join a well-respected organization making a significant impact in the local community.
For more information about the Sinfonia Music Education programs or audition process, visit SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or contact Margaret Gordon at mgordon@sinfoniagulfcoast.org.
