FSYO

Get ready to be blown away! 10.6.19 #SeasonOpener #FSYO #63rdSeason

#TBT to last year's season opener. Don't miss this year's 63rd Season Opener this Sunday, October 6th, 5pm at Calvary Orlando (link in bio) #FSYO #63rdseason

To those of you who have supported this once in a lifetime trip by donating, attending the gala, or lending your time, we would like to THANK YOU. Because of your gifts, we are able to offer quality educational programs that give young musicians a unique, challenging experience.

Fun fact: The Shanghai Maglev Train, built in 2004, was the first commercial high-speed maglev, and is the fastest commercial train in the world! Maglev trains have no wheels, and instead float above the track via magnet technology. #FSYOLetsGo2019

Three days left! We’ll be visiting a Hangzhou Tea Village, which specializes in Longjing tea, a 1200 year old green tea thought to be the best tea in China. The Qing Dynasty Emperor Qianlong saved his ill mother, the queen, with the healing power of Longjing tea. #FSYOLetsGo2019

Pagodas are any kind of tower that have multiple eaves. They are said to be originally built for religious purposes. The purpose was to house relics and sacred writings for the people. #FSYOLetsGo2019

5 days left before we depart for China! Fun fact: Yu Gardens in Shanghai was constructed by Pan Yunduan, a Ming Dynasty-era governor of the Sichuan Province, for his aging parents to enjoy. #FSYOLetsGo2019

Only 6 days left before we begin our summer tour! We’re so excited to visit the 2008 Beijing Olympic Stadium on this summer tour! Fun fact: The stadium was built for the Summer Olympics, but it will be used again in 2022 for the Winter Olympics and Paralympics! #FSYOLetsGo2019

We’re just one week from our 2019 China tour! Fun fact: Though you can’t actually see Beijing’s Great Wall of China from space, the brilliant lights of Beijing’s city skyline are easy to spot from the International Space Station and beyond. #FSYOLetsGo2019

On the fifth day of the Chinese new year Chinese dumplings are eaten to resemble good wealth and prosperity. #FSYOLetsGo2019

9 days left in our countdown! Fun fact: traditional Chinese lanterns are red with gold tassels and are oval-shaped. The color red is believed to symbolize warmth, happiness, and good fortune. Chinese lanterns can be as big as a person or as small as a baseball. #FSYOLetsGo2019

Our last stop in China is the city of Shanghai--the largest city in the world. Fun fact: There are more people living just in Shanghai than all of Florida! #FSYOLetsGo2019

In Hangzhou you will find the Lingyin Temple which is one of the three oldest temples in China. You will find several Buddhist stone statues carved that represent a strong historic heritage and culture of China. #FSYOLetsGo

Fun fact: Giant pandas, the famous bamboo-eaters, are no longer classified as endangered as of 2016! There are almost 2,000 giant pandas left in the world--a giant leap from the 1,000 alive in 1970. #FSYOLetsGo2019

The Small Wild Goose Pagoda used to be 147 feet tall, until an earthquake in 1556 destroyed the top 6 feet. #FSYOLetsGo2019

Only two weeks left until our summer tour of China! The famous Terracotta Warriors were constructed over 2,000 years ago by Emperor Qin Shi Huang, to protect Emperor Qin in the afterlife. #FSYOLetsGo2019

We’ll be taking an overnight train to the city of Xi’an, the ancient capital of China for 13 dynasties and over 1,500 years! The name Xi’an, literally translated, means “peace in the west.” #FSYOLetsGo2019

Fun fact: Jade is known as the “Stone of Heaven,” and is said to represent the virtues of compassion, wisdom, justice, courage, and modesty. #FSYOLetsGo2019

The Great Wall of China took over 2,000 years to build--from 770 BC to 1633 AD--and is almost 70 million feet long. #FSYOLetsGo2019

The Bell Tower in Xi’an was moved over 1,000 meters in the 16th century so it would be located in the “new” city center. This was one of the biggest building location projects during this time period. #FSYOLetsGo2019