The Southwest Florida Symphony is Lee County’s only professional orchestra and one of the oldest in the state of Florida. It made its debut as the Fort Myers Symphony, a community orchestra, on April 15, 1961. The Fort Myers Symphony performed in schools and community centers, with a roster of 24 volunteer amateur musicians, conducted by local piano teacher, Arlo Diebler. Today, the symphony boasts a roster of 70 world-class musicians who have been educated at the most prestigious conservatories and universities in the world, providing Lee County’s only access point for this level of orchestral performance. The Southwest Florida Symphony continues the orchestra’s tradition of artistic excellence through featuring world renowned guest artists and rising star guest soloists, led by newly appointed Music Director, Maestro Radu Paponiu. Maestro Paponiu, the sixth music director in the organization’s history, also serves as the Associate Conductor and Youth Orchestra Director for the Naples Philharmonic in addition to guest conducting with orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. In addition to delivering performances of the highest caliber available in Lee County, the Southwest Florida Symphony offers tuition free vibrant Youth Orchestra programs in partnership with the Heights Community Center in Fort Myers. Its El Sistema inspired MOSAIC group (an acronym for Musical Opportunities Supporting the Arts in Our Community) provides basic to intermediate music education and instrumental instruction for 50 budding musicians. The YO (Youth Orchestra) offers more advanced instruction, including personalized coaching and small group instruction, for students who have outgrown the MOSAIC program. Youth Orchestra and MOSAIC offer multiple performance opportunities each school year, including pre-Southwest Florida Symphony chamber performances in the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall lobby at Masterworks Classical Concerts.
