Community

Our Service to the Community

Because the Fort Worth Civic Orchestra is a performing ensemble composed almost entirely of amateur musicians, our educational and community service activities are directly integrated with our season concerts. Our programs frequently showcase student achievement and talent. Whether it’s a songwriting contest for elementary schoolchildren, a platform for gifted high school musicians or a launching pad for college students bound for a career in music, our orchestra is an eager partner in these formative experiences for young people. Our annual holiday concert for families is named for the philanthropic gesture we and our patrons make to assist the Fort Worth Police and young children in domestic crises.
Fort Worth Police Department collects stuffed toys at 2014 Teddy Bear Concert
Fort Worth Police Department collects
stuffed toys at 2014 Teddy Bear Concert

FWCO Teddy Bear Concert

Since 2002, our annual holiday concert for children has been dedicated to collecting stuffed toys for local children in crisis. Though the concert is free – as are all of our home concerts – we ask our patrons to bring one stuffed animal to donate to the Fort Worth Police Department. The police officers carry the toys in the back of their patrol cars to hand out to children when responding to domestic disturbance calls. The experience can be frightening and traumatic to a young child, but having a lovey to hold onto can calm a distressed boy or girl caught in a fearful and confusing situation.
1st Place Carol Contest Winner Layla Williams (c) and family at 2014 Teddy Bear Concert
1st Place Carol Contest Winner Layla Williams (c) and family at 2014 Teddy Bear Concert

FWCO Carol Writing Competition

In 2004, FWCO music director Kurt Sprenger conceived an annual songwriting contest expressly for elementary schoolchildren. The students – working either individually or in groups and with help from their school music teacher – compose words and music to a seasonal carol of their own creation. The entrants are judged by the quality of the melody and the lyrics, and the selected songs are professionally arranged for voice and orchestra. The annual unveiling of these “brand new” holiday carols has become a FWCO tradition and one of the highlights of our Teddy Bear Concert. Read more…
2nd Place Winner Roscoe Bussell 2015 Young Musicians Concerto Competition
2nd Place Winner Roscoe Bussell
2015 Young Musicians Concerto Competition

FWCO Young Musicians’ Concerto Competition

FWCO inaugurated its annual concerto competition for young musicians through high school age in 2011. In the few years since its inception, we have seen our alumni move on to the next stage of their career progression; our first year’s winner, Katelan Tran Terrell, is on the music staff of the Metropolitan Opera. It’s our privilege to perform alongside such gifted performers and to offer them the invaluable experience – often for the first time in their lives – to perform in concert as featured soloists with a symphony orchestra. Read more…