The Florissant Valley Symphony Orchestra

The Florissant Valley Symphony Orchestra, established in January 1971 by the St. Louis Community College at Florissant Valley, serves as a musical ensemble for both college students and community adult musicians. Initially formed to perform major works from the classical symphonic literature, the orchestra sought to enhance the quality of its performances by incorporating professional musicians into its ranks starting in 1978. To further support its endeavors, The Friends group was created in 2003. Facing the challenge of losing rehearsal space on the college campus in 2004, the orchestra relocated its rehearsals to a nearby church. A significant milestone in its development occurred in 2008 through a collaboration with the St. Charles Community College Orchestra, which expanded the ensemble from 50 to 75 members, thereby enabling the performance of larger and more complex pieces. The orchestra maintains a vibrant presence in the community, offering three annual concerts at The Terry M. Fischer Theater on the College campus and two at the St. Charles Community College, all free to the public.