Fine Arts Orchestral Society dba Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra

The Fine Art Orchestral Society (FAOS) - a 501 c3 - provides the fundraising and organizational support for the 62 year old Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra. FAOS is 100% volunteer led and run. It has no paid employees. All of organizational and fundraising activities are completed by its 14 member Board of Directors and several orchestra members. The Yonkers Philharmonic Orchestra is a 50-member community orchestra (composed of 50 % paid professional musicians and 40 % unpaid volunteers). Each year, FAOS produces 4 YPO concerts which are performed free of charge for audiences in Yonkers and other communities in lower Westchester County which borders New York City. The concerts which are held on Sunday afternoons in a public high school auditorium attract audiences of about 550 concert goers per concert. In addition, FAOS also produces a series of 6 ensemble concerts featuring YPO musicians (YPO Jazz, YPO Brass, YPO Strings, etc.). These ensembles perform concerts in a wide variety of venues in Yonker and Lower Westchester (i.e. Hudson River Museum, Phillips Manor Hall, Grinton I Will and Riverfront Libraries as well as private rehabilitation and long term care, senior citizens residences and community centers. FAOS also organizes introduction to music workshops (e.g Music for Fairy Tales) for elementary students in Yonkers public schools, the Young Artists Concerto Competition for highly talented high school0age students who plan to pursue higher education in music, and offers a scholarship for underserved Yonkers students who need financial assistance to pursue private tuition lessons while in high school.