HISTORY:

In December 1982, a small group of musicians gathered to present a concert in a church in Sandusky. Two decades and hundreds of concerts later, the local ensemble has evolved into the Firelands Symphony Orchestra. We are proud to be continuing the legacy of providing residents of North Central Ohio with the finest caliber classical and pop music.

The group began as The Fine Arts Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Timothy Claubaugh, choir director at St. Mary’s Catholic Church in Sandusky. Blake Walter served as music director from 1985-1990 with several interim conductors following. In 1992, J. Santos Perez assumed the posts of music director and conductor. At the same time, the organization incorporated as a non-profit and changed its name was to Firelands Symphony Orchestra. This name marked the growth of the orchestra into a full-size symphony and also acknowledged the geographic area it serves. The present music director and conductor, Carl Topilow, joined the organization in 2008 after a year-long music director search. Since 2006, concert attendance and season ticket holders have increased by 400%. Our 2012 holiday concert was the first sold out performance in FSO history. Maestro Topilow and the Firelands Symphony Orchestra continue to thrill audiences with engaging performances and memorable music.