Florida Chamber Orchestra
The Florida Chamber Orchestra was founded by Maestro Marlene Urbay in 1995, pursuing her dream to entertain and educate while making classical music accessible to everyone in the South Florida community. Its first performance in January 1996 at the former Colonnade hotel in the city of Coral Gables was soon followed by many other presentations such as “Magic Strings,” “Barroco Concert,” “The Petite Concert for Opera,” “Homage to Garcia Lorca” and “Famous Cuban Classics” to bigger and bigger audiences and in larger venues such as the Gusman Performing Hall at the University of Miami, the Florida International University Concert Hall, the Gusman Performing Hall of downtown, Miami. The FCO inaugurated the Roca Theater in 2006. It was an orchestra in residence till 2014 when it started presenting all concerts at the Miami-Dade County Auditorium, becoming its principal venue till 2024.
Appealing to various audiences, the Florida Chamber Orchestra strives to promote a common musical identity for South Florida by forging its diverse musical heritage into a unique Florida sound. It particularly takes a special interest in the cultivation of young artists and in growing a love for classical music in the hearts of younger generations.
Its extensive repertoire features from the baroque and the classics, to Gershwin, Lecuona and the most representative composers, including contemporary ones, of Latin America and Europe.
Striving to please the multi-ethnic population of South Florida, the Florida Chamber Orchestra has presented programs of French music, traditional Spanish repertoire with Angela Rhea’s Flamenco Dancing Company, Argentinian tango production with recording singer Daniel Bouchet and Argentinian guest musicians, a Pop concert with Paloma San Basilio, Cuban popular music with singers Albita Rodriguez, Luis Bofil, Maggie Charles, Malena Burke and Lucrecia, African-American music with Dr. Lonnie Smith, Latin Jazz with the group Hot Club USA, Cuban classical music with famous opera singers and guest soloists from the Classical World, Afro-Cuban folklore with the dance company IFE-ILE, as well as children’s concerts for our younger public, including different Children Choirs and Belen Jazz Band.
One other important role for The Florida Chamber Orchestra is to be available to help with the needs of the community. It gives multiple benefit concerts for different organizations such as the Make-A-Wish Foundation, Voices for Children Foundation, the Latin Builders Association, the GRASP-Guantanamo Refugee Relief, St Jude Foundation, and many others. Last February 2023, the FCO performed at the inauguration of the Maurice Ferre Park in downtown Miami.
In 2000, the Florida Chamber Orchestra released its first CD “Memorias de Cuba” and in 2005, “Échale Salsita.” The Florida Chamber Orchestra has been touring the Florida State representing our multicultural City.