About Us
Festival of Orchestras was founded in 1984 as the Orlando Celebrity Concert Association (OCCA). Founders Louis and Joy Roney brought OCCA audiences world-class soloists, quartets, trios, choral ensembles, chamber and symphony orchestras.
Louis and Joy Roney, Founders
In 1948, Louis Roney began his long international opera career as leading tenor in Tosca with the New York Philharmonic. For many years Roney starred in opera in North America and 9 European countries. Coming back to his native Winter Park in 1980, with his wife Joy, he was Distinguished Professor of Music at UCF for 24 years. Joy Roney has three music degrees, and played French Horn in symphony orchestras, and Broadway shows in New York, and Europe. Also a leading singer, she sang opera and concerts throughout the U.S. From 1984 to 2001 Joy was the General Manager of OCCA and Festival of Orchestras.
The Festival of Orchestras would also like to recognize the generous gifts of John M. Tiedtke, a great Winter Park businessman and philanthropist for making Central Florida a better place for all of us to live through his dedication and support to many great Arts Organizations. We thank him for his kindness, guidance, and financial support of the Festival of Orchestras over the years.
His great love for the arts has left a legacy that will touch the lives of many.
John M. Tiedtke | Festival of Orchestras and Central Florida Arts Philanthropist