Gainesville's Professional Resident Orchestra

Since its beginning, the orchestra has played a vital and important part of the cultural vitality of Alachua County.

Made up of local Professional musicians, the orchestra has been able to bring a consistent level of high quality performance to the community. Each season includes full scale Orchestral performances, world premieres, chamber music concerts, outreach performances to "underserved" communities, and local schools, as well as the Annual "walk thru the orchestra" family concert. The orchestra has strived to open the doors of great Symphonic Music to the entire community, often for free, but always at an affordable price. Most importantly, unlike the many guest Artists that pass through the Center for the Performing Arts, the Gainesville Chamber Orchestra is able to be an integral and inter-active part of the community.

Along with the Annual Free "POPS on the Plaza" concert, (attracting the largest crowds for a downtown Plaza event, according to the Gainesville Police Department), the orchestra has gained national recognition as well. Recently, Kennedy Center honoree and American musical legend, Leon Fleisher was a special guest Artist with the orchestra. The GCO is the ONLY orchestra in Florida to have its concerts regularly broadcast via radio throughout the state of Florida,("classic 89"), and most recently a 2 CD set of GCO performances were just released for sale. The orchestra was invited in 2000 to be part of the Kennedy Center Millennium Concert Series in Washington DC.

The orchestra possesses a rich history of collaboration with local institutions, such as the University of Florida, Habitat for Humanity, Florida Museum of Natural History, Hippodrome State Theatre, Dance Alive, Alachua County School Board, the First Presbyterian Church, Historic Haile Homestead, and is very proud of its association with the Santa Fe Community College, and the Spring Arts Festival.

Communities, cities, and civilizations, are remembered for their culture. The Gainesville Chamber Orchestra continues toward the future as our Home Team Professional Orchestra striving to entertain, enrich, and educate.