The Fort Myers Philharmonic is a professional orchestral organization dedicated to presenting outstanding symphonic music while fostering meaningful connections throughout Southwest Florida.
Led by internationally acclaimed conductor Paul Nadler, the Philharmonic brings together elite professional musicians to deliver performances defined by artistic excellence, emotional depth, and unforgettable musical experiences.
Our inaugural full season officially opens in September 2026, featuring powerful symphonic works, dynamic collaborations, and performances designed to inspire and engage audiences of all ages.
As we finalize concert locations, ticket pricing, and additional details, we invite you to subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know. Subscribers will receive early updates, exclusive announcements, and priority access as we prepare to bring this exciting new season to Southwest Florida.
Final concert details, locations, and ticket pricing will be announced soon. Subscribe to our newsletter to be the first to know when the full season lineup and ticket sales are officially released.
Military Heritage Museum
900 W Marion Ave, Punta Gorda, FL 33950
Arts Bonita Performing Arts Center
10150 Bonita Beach Rd SE, Bonita Springs, FL 34135
Florida Repertory Theatre
2268 Bay St, Fort Myers, FL 33901
Faith Presbyterian Church
4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904
Sanibel Congregational United Church of Christ
2050 Periwinkle Way, Sanibel, FL 33957
Alliance for the Arts
10091 McGregor Blvd, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW
13350 FSW Pkwy, Fort Myers, FL 33919
Faith Presbyterian Church
4544 Coronado Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904
The Fort Myers Philharmonic exists to present exceptional symphonic music performed by exceptional professional musicians while enriching the cultural life of Southwest Florida—fostering artistic excellence, meaningful community connections, and a vibrant future for orchestral music in our region.
Founded in 2025, the Fort Myers Philharmonic is Fort Myers’ only professional orchestra, comprised of highly trained professional musicians.
Guided by strong artistic leadership and governed by an experienced Board of Directors, the Philharmonic is committed to artistic integrity, exceptional performance, and long-term sustainability—ensuring orchestral music continues to thrive in Southwest Florida.
Led by internationally respected conductors, the Fort Myers Philharmonic brings together visionary artistic leadership with a passion for musical excellence, community connection, and unforgettable live performance experiences.
Your generosity helps bring exceptional orchestral music to Fort Myers and Southwest Florida, supporting live performances, community engagement, and the long-term future of the Fort Myers Philharmonic. Every contribution—large or small—plays a vital role in enriching our cultural landscape and ensuring that professional music continues to thrive in our region.
Choose from our upcoming concerts and secure your tickets for an unforgettable evening with the Fort Myers Philharmonic.
Maestro Paul Nadler has distinguished himself as an exciting and highly respected international conductor of opera and symphony. Since his Metropolitan Opera debut in 1989 he has led that company in more than 60 performances. Maestro Nadler’s most recent performances at the Met have included Richard Strauss’ Elektra, Franz Lehár’s The Merry Widow, Antonin Dvořák’s Rusalka, as well as Giuseppe Verdi’s Ernani and Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. In recent years he also conducted hugely successful productions of Puccini’s Turandot and Verdi’s Aida at Opéra de Montréal.
Performances at the Metropolitan Opera have featured stars such as Placido Domingo, Renée Fleming, Christine Goerke, Dmitri Hvorostovsky, Anna Netrebko, Luciano Pavarotti, and Bryn Terfel. His repertoire at the Met includes Die Zauberflöte, Fidelio, Rigoletto, Aida, Don Carlo, La Traviata, Un Ballo in Maschera, Tannhäuser, Roméo et Juliette, Carmen, Elektra, Die Fledermaus, Rusalka, and The Merry Widow among others.
Maestro Nadler’s symphonic guest conducting includes performances with the orchestras of Calgary, Montreal, and Victoria, Canada; Augsburg, Germany; Bucharest, Iasi, Targu Mures, and Timisoara, Romania; Tel Aviv, Israel; Pamplona, Spain; and the Grant Park Festival in Chicago. During his five years at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Maestro Nadler conducted numerous operatic and symphonic concerts, including new works by contemporary composers.
Early in his career he won the Jerusalem Symphony Conducting Competition. In 1974 Maestro Nadler founded the Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, where he remained as Music Director and Conductor through 1983. He returned to the Chamber Orchestra in 2009 to lead a celebration in honor of its 35th season. He was Music Director of the Southwest Florida Symphony from 1990 to 2006, and locally has also been associated with Gulfshore Opera.
Christopher Confessore currently serves as Music Director of the Brevard Symphony Orchestra and Principal POPS Conductor of the Alabama Symphony Orchestra. During his acclaimed tenure in Brevard, the orchestra has enjoyed a dramatic and sustained period of artistic excellence and has been praised for its innovative programming, spirited performances and broad repertoire. Mr. Confessore joined the Alabama Symphony Orchestra’s conducting staff in 2000. During that time, he has led the ASO in hundreds of Pops, Masterworks, Educational/Outreach, and Outdoor performances across the state of Alabama.
Mr. Confessore’s schedule as a guest conductor has included appearances with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Kansas City Symphony, Fort Worth Symphony, North Carolina Symphony, Jacksonville Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Sarasota Orchestra, Charlotte (NC) Symphony, Tucson Symphony Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony, Hartford Symphony Orchestra, New Mexico Philharmonic, and the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra. He has appeared as a conductor for two of Walt Disney World’s most elaborate productions: The Candlelight Processional at EPCOT – a production featuring a full orchestra, 200-voice choir and celebrity narrators including Brendan Fraser, Neil Patrick Harris, Whoopi Goldberg, Gary Sinise, and Sigourney Weaver – and The Music of Pixar: A Symphony of Characters at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Throughout his career, Mr. Confessore has demonstrated a strong commitment to sharing symphonic music with young people. During the 2025-26 season he will conduct more than 50 performances of 10 different educational programs with orchestras across the country for a combined audience of more than 80,000 eager young listeners.
Heralded as a sensitive accompanist and inspiring collaborator, Christopher Confessore has accompanied a distinguished list of concert artists, including Itzhak Perlman, Joshua Bell, and Lang Lang. As a Pops conductor, he has appeared with a diverse group of superstars, including Grammy Award winners Art Garfunkel, Amy Grant, Trisha Yearwood, Indigo Girls, Patti LaBelle, Judy Collins, Marvin Hamlisch, LeAnn Rimes, Roberta Flack, Chris Botti, Peabo Bryson, Rick Springfield, Patti Austin, Jon Anderson, Nanci Griffith, Lee Greenwood, and Charlie Daniels and Tony Award winners Idina Menzel and Jennifer Holliday. Music columnist Mary Colurso of The Birmingham News remarked “Anyone who regards the symphony as stuffy and elitist hasn’t been to a SuperPops show when Confessore’s in charge. He exudes nice-guy appeal on stage, along with real warmth, a sense of humor and smarts to spare.”
Mr. Confessore holds a Master of Music degree in Instrumental Conducting from the University of Southern California and the Bachelor of Music degree in Bassoon Performance from Florida State University.
“Early in my career, I worked as a freelance bassoonist in southwest Florida. I had the privilege of performing as an extra with the Southwest Florida Symphony under the direction of Maestro Paul Nadler. I found him to be an inspiring leader, completely dedicated to bringing the music to life. It is an honor to now work with Maestro Nadler to bring great performances of orchestral music to audiences in the region.”
