Miami City Ballet Orchestra

Every Miami City Ballet performance is perfectly complemented by the lustrous sounds of our very own live musicians, led by Principal Conductor Gary Sheldon.

The Miami City Ballet Orchestra enlivens the action, inspires our dancers, and transports us to the heights of imagination and the depths of the soul. The orchestra, comprised of the finest musicians throughout the area, performs for the complete subscription season and all Nutcracker performances.

In the early years, members of the Florida Philharmonic performed under Maestro Ottavio DeRosa for Miami City Ballet from time to time. Subsequent principal conductors for the company have included Maestri Akiro Endo, Juan Francisco LaManna and Gary Sheldon, whose tenure began in 2010. The Opus One Orchestra began performing in the pit in 2007.

The 2023/24 season represents the first we proudly announce the orchestra’s new title: Miami City Ballet Orchestra.

Fun Fact: The Orchestra typically includes 45-50 musicians in the pit, depending on the requirements of the music score. The musicians of the ballet orchestra lead busy careers performing for other orchestras and teaching in many area schools.