The Frankston Symphony Orchestra (FSO) is one of ten community orchestras in Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

, Australia

Australia

Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...

. It is from the Melbourne

Melbourne

Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...

 suburb of Frankston

Frankston, Victoria

Frankston is a suburb within the Greater Melbourne metropolitan area in Victoria, Australia. It is located 40 km southeast of the state capital Melbourne at the southernmost edge of Greater Melbourne, near the beginnings of the Mornington Peninsula...

 - on the Mornington Peninsula

Mornington Peninsula

The Mornington Peninsula is a peninsula located south-east of Melbourne in Victoria, Australia. It is surrounded by Port Phillip to the west, Western Port to the east and Bass Strait to the south, and is connected to the mainland in the north. Geographically, the peninsula begins its protrusion...

. The orchestra forms a part of the Frankston Music Society, which also includes the Mornington Peninsula Chorale.

History

The Frankston Music Society was founded in 1967 by world-renowned concert pianist

Piano

The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...

 Vera Bradford

Vera Bradford

Vera Florence Bradford was an Australian classical pianist and teacher, with a very long career. Her playing was admired for its depth and beauty of tone, classical unity and tremendous power....

, and fellow residents from the area. The orchestra

Orchestra

An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...

 was formed first in 1968, with the chorale

Chorale

A chorale was originally a hymn sung by a Christian congregation. In certain modern usage, this term may also include classical settings of such hymns and works of a similar character....

 to follow in 1979.

Bradford raised the orchestra profile dramatically, during its early years. She performed with it herself as well as organised notable soloists

Solo (music)

In music, a solo is a piece or a section of a piece played or sung by a single performer...

 to perform with it, including: Ron Farren-Price and Geoffrey Tozer

Geoffrey Tozer

Geoffrey Tozer was an Australian classical pianist and composer. As a child prodigy, he composed an opera at the age of eight, and became the youngest recipient of a Churchill Fellowship award at 13...

 (at 21 years of age). The orchestra has also had a number of notable past conductors, including: Eric Austin-Phillips, George Logie-Smith

George Logie-Smith

George Logie-Smith OBE was an Australian orchestra and choral conductor, music examiner, and music educator.He was born in Melbourne, to parents who had migrated to Australia from Scotland before he was born...

, OAM

Order of Australia

The Order of Australia is an order of chivalry established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, "for the purpose of according recognition to Australian citizens and other persons for achievement or for meritorious service"...

, Yoshinao Osawa, Joannes Roose and Mark Shiell.

Today

The orchestra performs regularly at the Frankston Arts Centre

Frankston Arts Centre

The Frankston Arts Centre is a landmark theatre and art gallery in the outer Melbourne locality of Frankston in Australia. It was opened by then Prime Minister, The Hon...

 and also tours regional Victoria

Victoria (Australia)

Victoria is the second most populous state in Australia. Geographically the smallest mainland state, Victoria is bordered by New South Wales, South Australia, and Tasmania on Boundary Islet to the north, west and south respectively....

. Apart from traditional concerts the orchestra also performs concerts of children's music

Children's music

Children's music is used here to refer to music composed and performed for children by adults. In European influenced contexts this means music, usually songs, written specifically for a juvenile audience. The composers are usually adults. Children's music has historically held both entertainment...

, film and television scores

Film score

A film score is original music written specifically to accompany a film, forming part of the film's soundtrack, which also usually includes dialogue and sound effects...

and contemporary pieces.