The Friends of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra are passionate and proud to support the OPO Musicians and Staff as they prepare the season’s outstanding musical programming. We also volunteer our time and talents to raise funds for the OPO.
“Shake, Rattle & Roll“
This 2026 Summer Fundraiser will benefit the OPO’s Percussion Section and Operations Department. Every dollar raised will be used to replace, upgrade, or repair the OPO’s percussion instruments and Operations equipment which includes the Music Library.
Your support of this effort will include an invitation to a PERCUSSION PARTY sometime during the Spring of 2027.
What your donation can fund:
Every dollar raised will be put towards replacing, upgrading, or repairing existing percussion and operations equipment. High quality, professional, specialized equipment will be purchased from OPO’s trusted sources.
In addition to specific items mentioned throughout the brochure, other items may be purchased with your donation, including drum stands & cases, holiday decor, instrument covers, and other items as needed. Rest assured that your donation, no matter the amount, will be used thoughtfully.
OPO’s most urgent needs:
- Concert Bells
- Road cases for timpani and drums
- Cymbals and cymbal bags
- Celeste and road case
- Multiple small percussion instruments (whip, triangles, tambourines, etc.)
- Music folders
- Music stand refurbishment
- Coil binding machine
- Music stand trays
- Stand lights and charging case
- Library cart
- Stools for bass and percussion sections
Your $100 donation will buy one of these:
- 1 reinforced cymbal case
- 5 sets of cymbal straps
- 1 Uline padded stool
- 1 slapstick (whip)
Your $250 donation will buy one of these:
- 1 Pearl snare drum stand
- 25 music folders
- 2 cases for tom-toms
- 5 music stand trays
Your $500 donation will buy one of these:
- 1 pair of Sabian 16″ cymbals
- 3 Christmas trees
- 3 Aria stand lights
- Marimba cover
Your $1,000 donation will buy one of these:
- 4 new timpani heads
- 2 Taico cable trunks
- 1 library cart
- 30 music stand refurbishments
Large purchases:
- 14 Uline padded stools – $1,400
- Coil binding machine for music – $1,600
- Deagan concert bells – $4,000
- Timpani road cases – $5,000
- Full set of Aria stand lights + case – $15,000
- 5 octave Shiedmayer celeste + case – $65,000
Members of the OPO’s woodwind section use stand-mounted trays to hold reeds, reed tools, water and other necessary items.
Our Celeste…
This once beautiful instrument is nearly 100 years old! She belonged to the Florida Symphony Orchestra before the OPO. She has been played in countless Nutcracker performances, and heard in works by many other composers, including Mozart, Barber, Debussy, Holst, Bernstein, and John Williams. Our celeste is literally being held together with gaffer’s tape! Keys stick and some notes barely play. She is, sadly, beyond repair. OPO’s dream celeste is made by Schiedmayer in Germany and is currently priced at $60,000 (plus road case). If you’re interested in donating the cost of a new celeste (and maybe having it named after you), please contact OPO Executive Director Karina Bharne.
Bells, bells, bells…
OPO’s concert bells, unfortunately, have “dead” notes that don’t ring as they should. A new set of state-of- the-art Deagan bells is desired to bring the beauty and resonance back to the orchestra. The right model will cost $4,000.
You can make your donations in one of two ways:
- Donate On-line – Fill out the form below and click on “Submit” to process your payment..
- Donate With a Check By Mail – Click on the “Download Donation Form” button below, print the resulting PDF file, fill it out and mail it along with your check to the address shown on the printed form.
Donations To-Date – $0.00
Shake, Rattle & Roll Donation Form
