ORLANDO YOUTH CHAMBER ORCHESTRA & STRING ENSEMBLE
We prepare students for the next level by providing specialized instruction on a variety of styles and standard repertoire. Our goal is to supplement the concepts which they are learning in their school orchestra and private lessons by reinforcing technical fundamentals while tackling advanced artistic concepts.
There will be opportunities to work closely with local professionals including guest conductors from college faculties, sectionals from members of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, and a performance at Timucua Arts Organization’s “White House”, one of Orlando’s most intimate and unique venues. For next season, we are also planning a side-by-side concert of Spanish music where the chamber orchestra members will collaborate with dance troupe Flamenco del Sol and The Bach Festival Orchestra.
Auditions are TBD! Once we hold auditions, we will meet every Wednesday evening from 6-8 until the end of the school year in the orchestra room at Cypress Creek High School.
Our audition requirements, which can also be found below, were tailored to be accessible and provide an accurate representation of the students’ levels by allowing them to showcase their strengths.
Daniel Cortes
Chamber Orchestra Director
Daniel Cortes is the founder, executive director, and conductor of Symphonic Underground (2018-Present), an organization dedicated to providing audiences with an accessible gateway to the classical world by programming music from video games and movies. He has been playing the viola for almost 25 years (B.M. Stetson University 2008 in the studio of Jesus Alfonzo, M.M. Western Michigan University 2012 as Igor Fedotov’s graduate assistant) and is trained in a variety of styles both inside and outside of the traditional classical curriculum. He served as principal violist throughout the entirety of his collegiate studies and continues to be actively involved with orchestras and chamber ensembles in the surprisingly robust Floridian arts scene.
Since beginning his freelancing career in 2004, he has performed with dozens of organizations around the nation such as Florida Orchestra, Orlando Opera, Orlando Contemporary Chamber Orchestra, Opera del Sol, Alterity Chamber Orchestra, Brevard Symphony, Florida Lakes Symphony, Villages Philharmonic, Space Coast Symphony, Punta Gorda Symphony, Florida Rock Orchestra, Kalamazoo Symphony, Arcus Chamber Orchestra,Southwest Michigan Symphony, West Michigan Symphony, Battle Creek Symphony, Dearborn Symphony, Traverse City Symphony, and several others.
Noteworthy engagements include (but are not limited to) appearances with Mannheim Steamroller, Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Weird Al, The Eagles, The Who, The Beach Boys, Electric Light Orchestra, Amy Grant, Michael W. Smith, Kristin Chenoweth, Arnie Roth, Paquito d’Rivera, Johnny Mathis, Nelly, Journey’s Jonathan Cain, Video Games Live, George Benson, Little River Band, Cirque Musica, BT, Bernadette Peters, Styx, Game of Thrones Live, Pokémon Symphonic Evolution, Michael Bolton, Alan Parsons Project, Frankie Valli, Irish Tenors, Clay Aiken, Jackie Evancho, Rocktopia, and Roy Orbison’s 3D hologram.
He was privileged to study chamber music with members from Cuarteto Rios Reyna, Juilliard Quartet, Emerson Quartet, Harlem Quartet, Shanghai Quartet, Amadeus Quartet, Enzo Quartet, Pacifica Quartet, St. Lawrence String Quartet, Cavani String Quartet, Harlem Quartet, Beaux Arts Trio, and the Takacs Quartet, among others. In the summer of 2008, he was invited to play a series of chamber concerts at the William Walton Estate “La Mortella” in Italy, where he had the honor of receiving a signed participation certificate signed by Lady Walton.
It is his life’s mission to honor his mentors by sharing their knowledge with the next generation.
Brandon Bangle
String Ensemble Director
Brandon Bangle is a violinist, teacher, conductor, and composer from Richmond, Virginia. He received both his Bachelor of Music in Instrumental Music Education and Master of Arts in Teaching from
Christopher Newport University in Newport News, Virginia. He first taught orchestra, guitar, and piano for Spotsylvania County Schools where he was also a member of the Rappahannock Pops Orchestra and a conductor with the Rappahannock Youth Symphony. Brandon then was appointed Director of Instrumental Music at Montverde Academy here in Florida, directing both band an orchestra programs and facilitating the opening of the Fine Arts Conservatory.
Brandon currently resides in Orlando, Florida where he is Orchestra Director at Olympia High School and Assistant Director of Bands at Florida Polytechnic University. His orchestras have consistently received superior ratings at both district and state assessments and have performed for both the Orlando Magic and on the local news.
He is a member of the Central Florida Community Arts Symphony Orchestra which he has also conducted and was a conductor with the Central Florida Community Arts Young Artist Orchestra.
Brandon has had his compositions published with Grand Mesa Music and Wingert Jones.
Brandon is excited to be working with the Orlando Youth Chamber Ensembles and looks forwards to meeting students and families who love orchestra as much as him!