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Youth Orchestra Faculty

All Sarasota Orchestra faculty members are experienced musicians with excellent credentials and a strong commitment to teaching. Our instructors mentor each student’s unique needs and goals through both individual and group programs.

Sarasota Orchestra Youth Orchestras
 
Christopher Allen
Youth Symphony Conductor
Mr. Allen is the Director of Orchestras at Joe E. Newsome High School in Lithia, Florida. He has previously served as an adjunct faculty member at the Blake Fine Arts High School and has spent 6 years as an elementary music teacher in Hillsborough County. Mr. Allen holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Horn performance from the University of South Florida and is a member of the French Horn section of the Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra in Fort Myers. Mr. Allen is very active as a freelance horn player and has played with the Walt Disney World Orchestra, Sarasota Orchestra, and The Florida Orchestra. Mr. Allen currently serves as the Hillsborough County 11th and 12th grade All-County Chairperson and is a member of the Florida Orchestra Association, Florida Music Educators Association, Music Education National Conference, and Phi Mu Alpha Sinfonia.
 
Daniel Boyd
Symphonic Winds Conductor
Mr. Daniel E. Boyd is a proud graduate of Southeast High School in Bradenton, Florida. This is where his Director Mr. Bob Schaer instilled the love of music education. Mr. Boyd continued his love of music education at Louisiana State University under Mr. Frank Wickes, Ms. Linda Moorehouse, and Dr. James Byo. While at LSU, Daniel also played for the fighting Tigers as a place kicker. Mr. Boyd started his education career as Assistant Director of Bands under his mentor, Mr. Bob Schaer, at Lakewood Ranch High School in Bradenton. His education career was briefly interrupted to play in both NFL Europe and the NFL as a place kicker. Upon returning from the NFL, Daniel continued his education career at Carlos E. Haile Middle School in Bradenton for seven years. After HMS, he served as the Director of Bands and Orchestras at Bayshore High School for three years before returning to middle school at Louise R. Johnson Middle School for International Studies.  Currently, Mr. Boyd is the Dean of Students at Palmetto High School in Palmetto, Florida.  Daniel has been leading the Symphonic Winds for five years preparing young musicians for the Sarasota Youth Symphony and Youth Philharmonic orchestras. 
 
Susan Heinz
Symphonic Strings Conductor
Ms. Heinz is director of Symphonic Strings with the Sarasota Youth Orchestra. Ms. Heinz began studying the violin at age 9 in her hometown of Scranton, PA. At the Hartt School of Music, she studied music education with John Feierabend and violin performance with Eric Rosenblith. She graduated summa cum laude, earning her degree in 1994 and was also inducted as a member of Pi Kappa Lambda, the National Music Honor Society. Three years later, she relocated to Sarasota and began teaching general music and strings at Phillippi Shores Elementary School, where she was named Teacher of the Year. In 1997 she began working with the Sarasota Youth Orchestra Program.
 
Rob Lambert
Youth Philharmonic Conductor
Rob is the Director of Winds & Percussion and Director of Jazz Studies at the Harrison School for the Arts in Lakeland, Florida. He has been on the Harrison faculty since 1994 and conducts the Harrison Symphony Orchestra, Wind Symphony, Jazz Orchestra, Chamber Winds, and Percussion Ensemble. Rob's ensembles have performed at the Midwest Clinic, an International Band & Orchestra Conference, four times with three of the various groups. As well, the HSO performed in La Croix Valmer, France at the Festival des Anches d’Azur in 2010 and 2018. In addition to conducting at Harrison, Rob teaches AP Music Theory.  Outside of the school Rob is in his eighth season as the conductor of the Youth Philharmonic with the Sarasota Orchestra. Rob has also served as an AP Music Theory Test Reader for the College Board. He is active as a guest conductor and clinician around the state and is a FBA certified adjudicator. As well, Rob adjudicates various marching, concert, and jazz band events.  Rob holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of South Florida and a Bachelor of Music Education degree from Florida Southern College. As well, he has obtained Music/EAYA certification from the NBPTS. He is a member of Phi Beta Mu, NAfME, the NBA, the FMEA, the FBA, and served as Chairman of the FBA state Jazz Committee.
 
Celia Sperotto
Camerata Strings Conductor
Celia Sperotto is the Orchestra and Chorus Director at Rowlett Middle Academy in Bradenton, Florida. She began studying the violin at age 12 in her middle school orchestra and has been playing ever since. Ms. Sperotto received her Bachelor’s and Master's Degrees in Music Education from the University of South Florida. Currently, she conducts and teaches the Camerata Orchestra for the Sarasota Youth Orchestras and is a part of the faculty of the Sarasota Orchestra’s Summer Music Camp. Ms. Sperotto is also alumni of this program. She proudly serves as the District Chair for our area for the Florida Orchestra Association, and is an active member of the Florida Vocal Association as well as the Florida Music Educators Association. Along with her love of teaching music, Ms. Sperotto performs her violin in the area and is very excited to be a part of the Sarasota Youth Orchestra. 
Sarasota Youth Orchestra Program

Apply Today!

The Youth Orchestra program has taught thousands of young people to become better musicians. Many become performers with the Sarasota Orchestra or major symphony orchestras throughout the country.

Seven different orchestras rehearse weekly from September through April. Students progress through the program from string ensembles up to full orchestras. Auditions are held every year.

2023-2024 Youth Orchestra Application
Scholarship*Absence FormRehearsal SchedulesConcert Schedule

* Private Lesson Progress / Reimbursement Form

Tuition

Each participant in the Youth Orchestra program pays $305 tuition. This is in addition to the $25 application fee and is due upon invoice. The $305 tuition is only a fraction of the actual cost to Sarasota Orchestra per student. We are grateful to the Sarasota Orchestra Friends and the generosity of donors and granting organizations that help keep the costs to students reasonable.

Recruitment Incentive

Do you know a student that would enjoy being a part of our program? Help us spread the word and receive $25 off your tuition for each new student. Example: Talk with 4 new students that meet the requirements below and receive $100 off your tuition.

Scholarships

The Sarasota Orchestra is fortunate to be able to offer several types of scholarships. Through the generosity of many donors and numerous foundations, we are able to off-set tuition expenses. We also strongly believe in the benefit of private lessons and are able to help subsidize students’ lesson expenses. In addition, we offer scholarships for summer music camps and college music majors.

TUITION SCHOLARSHIPS: Need-based tuition scholarships are awarded to cover a portion of program cost (between 10% and 75%). Please include a letter of explanation. These letters can greatly help the committee with their decisions.

SIBLING SCHOLARSHIPS: The Sarasota Orchestra understands that many families have more than one child in our program. To help off-set these expenses, we offer a reduced tuition rate to families with more than one student participating in the Youth Orchestra Program. Often these are 50% scholarships. For example, $305 for the first child, $152.50 for each additional child. You must request this scholarship on
the application.

FELLOWSHIPS: FULL TUITION scholarships (excluding application fee) are awarded based on family need. To be considered for a full tuition scholarship, you must provide full income disclosure (IRS 1040 Form, page one, front and back) and an explanation of scholarship need. Full scholarships cannot be granted without this documentation.

PRIVATE LESSON SCHOLARSHIPS: These are awarded to Youth Orchestra participants to help defray a percentage of the cost of private lessons (38 lesson maximum Sept.-June).

Give to the
Annual Fund

Gifts to the Annual Fund ensure that Sarasota Orchestra can continue to share the gift of music with our community through concerts, education and outreach programs. Please join us by making a donation today. Together, we can keep the music playing, now and always.

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Contact Us

 Address

709 N Tamiami Tr, Sarasota, FL 34236

 Phone

Box Office: 941.953.3434
Administration: 941.953.4252

 Box Office Hours:

Our staff is here to help by phone, email, or in-person Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm.

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About Us

Our mission is to engage, educate, and enrich our community through high-quality, live musical experiences.

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