Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO) is a professional ad hoc orchestra.

The Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO) Company is home to the Free State’s only professional symphony orchestra and orchestral training programme and music-educational pipeline. Its mission is the seamless integration of music education and professional performance in the context of a symphony orchestra. The FSSO Company supports two orchestras: the Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO), and the Free State Youth Orchestra (FSYO).

The Outreach and Development portfolio of the FSSO includes the:

Free State Youth Orchestra (FSYO)
Cadet Programme (The Cadet Programme draws its members from the Mangaung String Programme, which serves historically disadvantaged learners of the Botshabelo township in Bloemfontein.)
Community concerts

Since its establishment in 1974, the professional core of the orchestra has comprised UFS music lecturers, Musicon music teachers and free-lance musicians from the area. For larger concerts, extra musicians from other centres are contracted. The core is supplemented by some of the best young instrumentalists (students and learners) in the province. The orchestra utilises both the Odeion Theatre on the UFS campus and the majestic Sand du Plessis Theatre of Pacofs.

Sources

Odile Marissa Lesch. 2017. 'The Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra’s Youth Development & Education Programme and its contribution to transformation and diversity within the CPO'. Unpublished Masters thesis. Stellenbosch University.

https://fsso.co.za