ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando’s own professional orchestra has served over 187,000 guests, 85,000 children and families, and one million students over the past three decades.
The orchestra consists of musicians from all over the world. Riff On This sat down with founding board member and French horn player Mark Fischer and clarinetist Seok Hee Jang, a relatively new member of the orchestra who moved to Orlando this year and holds the co-chair.
Fischer has been with the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra since its inception and remembers how different it was back in the early ’90s.
[TRENDING: It’s OMG hot in Fla. | WHOA! Large shark near swimmers | Become a News 6 Insider]
“When we started in 1993, we started out as an orchestra, which was actually a service organization, and our attitude was very entrepreneurial,” said Fischer. “It started small, just performing chamber orchestra works in churches, and it took about three years before we could build up enough financial capital to do our first concert at the Bob Carr Theater.”
Watch every episode of reef to it in media player below:
Working closely with the Orlando Opera Company and Orlando Ballet, as well as the school systems, the OPO has been able to grow and expand over the years.
“So here we are, 30 years later, and now we’re entering the new Steinmetz hall, where I still pinch myself,” said Fischer. “Every time I step onto the stage, I look into the hall, I think it’s incredibly beautiful.”
Jang shared a similar opinion about the new Steinmetz hall.
“For me, as a new musician in the orchestra, I can’t imagine being here at a better time than our 30th anniversary season,” said Jang. “It’s such a work, really a work of art, it makes us sound so much better. It’s a privilege to play indoors.”
Jang said the move to Florida was great and everyone was extremely welcoming. He looks forward to working with the great musicians at OPO.
Fischer said he started out on the administrative side of the orchestra and has handled the business side for so many years that it’s nice to be able to appreciate the artistic side of things again now that he’s playing with the orchestra again.
“I think Gil Yamaha put it best. He said, “This hall is an instrument.” It’s not just a room. It’s an instrument.’ It’s a spectacular space. And I believe that going forward this venue will result in the Orlando Philharmonic evolving into a more refined ensemble over time, and that’s already the case in its first season, but it’s a real joy to make music there ‘ said Fisher.
Be sure to listen to the latest episode of Riff On This to learn more about how Fischer and Jang got their start as classical musicians, plus more amazing stories from the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. You’ll also get the latest on the rest of the season, as well as some inside information on what’s in store for next season.
Copyright 2023 by WKMG ClickOrlando – All rights reserved.
