What are the opening hours?

Monday 07:45 - 16:30 Tuesday 07:45 - 16:30 Wednesday 07:45 - 16:30 Thursday 07:45 - 16:30 Friday 07:45 - 16:30

Free State Symphony Orchestra

Home
South Africa
Bloemfontein
Free State Symphony Orchestra

The Free State's only professional symphony orchestra and orchestral training programme.

31/08/2026

🎻 𝗖𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗹𝗹 𝗙𝗦𝗦𝗢 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗙𝗦𝗬𝗢 𝗮𝗹𝘂𝗺𝗻𝗶!

Were you once part of the Free State Symphony Orchestra or Free State Youth Orchestras? Whether you performed with us many years ago or more recently, we would love to reconnect with you!

We are updating our alumni database and establishing an official 𝙁𝙎𝙎𝙊 𝙖𝙣𝙙 𝙁𝙎𝙔𝙊 𝘼𝙡𝙪𝙢𝙣𝙞 𝙉𝙚𝙩𝙬𝙤𝙧𝙠 to keep former musicians connected with the FSSO family.

Complete the Alumni Network Registration Form here:

🔗 https://forms.gle/JgnbUbXJdWyaYwtz9

Your information will be kept confidential and used only for FSSO communication.

Please share this post or tag former FSSO and FSYO musicians you know. Help us reconnect our musical family! 🎶

25/08/2026

Feel the dark, restless power of Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture… then let Mozart’s Symphony No. 39 open the room with warmth, elegance and light.

And between them? The finalists of the International Woodwind Competition step onto the Odeion stage... bringing some of the finest emerging woodwind talent together with the Free State Symphony Orchestra.

This isn’t background music.

It’s the kind of music you feel in your chest.

🌬️ A BREATH OF WINDS
📅 Saturday, 3 October 2026
🕢 19:30
📍 Odeion, Bloemfontein
🎼 Free State Symphony Orchestra

Whether you're already a classical music lover or you've simply never experienced a full symphony orchestra live before... this is a beautiful place to start.

Seats are waiting. The orchestra won’t.

🎟️ Book your tickets via Webtickets:
https://www.webticket.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1600304534

Love good music. Hear it live.

19/08/2026

🎻 Only two concerts left in the FSSO’s 2026 season… and we want to know which one has your attention. 👀

First up: A Breath of Winds on 3 October an evening where the orchestra’s wind section gets its moment to shine. 🌬️🎶

Then we close out the year on 31 October with Love Good Music. A celebration of exactly what brings us all together: unforgettable live music. ❤️🎼

Which programme are you most curious about?
Tell us in the comments below 👇

🎟️ Tickets available via Webtickets.

A Breath of Winds https://www.webticket.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1600304534

Love Good Music https://www.webticket.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1600305130

18/08/2026

On 3 October 2026, the Odeion comes alive with A Breath of Winds an evening celebrating the extraordinary colour, character and virtuosity of the woodwind family.

Under the baton of Guido Mancusi, the Free State Symphony Orchestra will be joined by the finalists of the International Woodwind Competition for a concert filled with brilliance, precision and unforgettable musical moments.

✨ One stage.
🎼 Exceptional soloists.
🌬️ A breath of something extraordinary.

📍 Odeion
📅 3 October 2026

Book now through Webtickets and experience it live.
https://www.webticket.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1600304534

14/08/2026

Something is stirring in the Odeion… 🎶

A breath. A bow. A note suspended in the air.

Then Beethoven. Mozart. Live.

On 3 October 2026, the Free State Symphony Orchestra brings two of classical music’s greatest names to life in an evening shaped by power, precision and pure musical magic.

This is only the first breath.

🎟️ **Book now via Webtickets**
https://www.webticket.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1600304534
📍 Odeion
📅 3 October 2026

14/08/2026

🎼 𝟱𝟬 𝗗𝗔𝗬𝗦 𝗧𝗢 𝗚𝗢

There are 50 days until our concert on 𝟯 𝗢𝗰𝘁𝗼𝗯𝗲𝗿—𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝟱𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗵𝗲𝗹𝗽 𝘂𝘀 𝘄𝗲𝗹𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗲 𝟱𝟬 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘁𝗼 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗦𝘆𝗺𝗽𝗵𝗼𝗻𝘆 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗟𝗶𝗳𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘆.

We are inviting individuals, families and businesses to stand with the Free State Symphony Orchestra and help keep professional orchestral music flourishing in the Free State.

Your contribution can be once-off or recurring, and the amount is entirely your choice. Every pledge helps create opportunities for musicians, inspires young audiences and develops the next generation.

𝗪𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗯𝗲 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗳 𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝟱𝟬?

Complete the Symphony for Life Pledge Form:
🔗 https://forms.office.com/r/UF49XPf077

Please share this post and help us spread the word.

𝟱𝟬 𝗱𝗮𝘆𝘀. 𝟱𝟬 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗢𝗻𝗲 𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗵𝗲𝘀𝘁𝗿𝗮 𝘄𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵 𝗸𝗲𝗲𝗽𝗶𝗻𝗴.

07/08/2026

🎼 Help Keep the Music Alive

For more than 50 years, the Free State Symphony Orchestra has inspired audiences, developed young musicians, and enriched our community through the power of music.

Today, we're inviting you to become part of our Symphony for Life community.

Whether you sponsor sheet music for a learner, support a school demonstration, make a once-off donation, or become a recurring donor, every contribution helps secure the future of orchestral music in the Free State.

📖 Complete our online Symphony for Life Pledge Form using the link provided.
Together, we can keep the music alive.

🔗 https://forms.office.com/r/UF49XPf077

05/08/2026

It is with great sadness that we mark the passing of Gerhard Geist on 19 July 2026.

Born in Ansbach, Germany, Gerhard studied conducting under Professors Heinrich Knappe and Fritz Lehmann. After earning master’s degrees in piano and conducting, he joined the Frankfurt Opera under Sir Georg Solti. Two years later, he was appointed to the Wuppertal Opera House and subsequently became head of the Lenz Singing Academy, an ensemble once conducted by Anton Bruckner.

In 1970, Gerhard served as assistant to Herbert von Karajan at the Salzburg Festival for a production of Wagner’s Götterdämmerung.

After moving to South Africa, he conducted numerous operas for PACOFS and many concerts with the PACOFS Symphony Orchestra—now the Free State Symphony Orchestra. He served as the orchestra’s Resident Conductor from 1984 to 1997. One of the landmarks of his distinguished career was conducting Wagner’s Lohengrin at the opening of the Sand du Plessis Theatre in 1985.

Gerhard Geist made an enduring contribution to the musical life of the Free State and South Africa. We remember him with deep gratitude and extend our heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, former colleagues and all whose lives he touched through music.

May he rest in peace.

13/05/2026

🚨 This Saturday. Last chance. Ruan Baartman just broke down exactly why Music Inspires Music is the concert you need to be at this weekend!

🎼 Four iconic works
🎻 One brilliant soloist
🎶 One world-class conductor

The Odeion stage. This Saturday. A few seats left.

🎟️ Stop scrolling. Start booking:
https://www.webtickets.co.za/v2/event.aspx?itemid=1593251847

Free State Symphony Orchestra - love good music.

07/05/2026

Principal double bassist Ruan Baartman of the Free State Symphony Orchestra will perform as a soloist on 16 May 2026 in the Odeion Concert Hall.

Read More:
https://www.bloemfonteincourant.co.za/double-bass-takes-centre-stage-in-rare-solo-spotlight/

Address

Bloemfontein
9301

Opening Hours

Monday	07:45 - 16:30
Tuesday	07:45 - 16:30
Wednesday	07:45 - 16:30
Thursday	07:45 - 16:30
Friday	07:45 - 16:30

Website

http://www.fsso.co.za/

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Free State Symphony Orchestra posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Establishment

Send a message to Free State Symphony Orchestra:

Want your establishment to be the top-listed Arts & Entertainment in Bloemfontein?

Free State Symphony Orchestra

31/08/2026

25/08/2026

19/08/2026

18/08/2026

14/08/2026

14/08/2026

07/08/2026

05/08/2026

13/05/2026

07/05/2026

Address

Opening Hours

Website

Alerts

Contact The Establishment

Shortcuts

Share

Category

Listing takedown request