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History

Under the leadership of Music Director Stefan Sanderling, The Florida Orchestra is recognized as Tampa Bay's leading performing arts institution, one of the leading professional symphony orchestras in Florida, and one of the best regional orchestras in America. The Pops conductor of the Florida Orchestra is Richard Kaufman, a guest conductor to the orchestra.

Founded as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony in 1968, the orchestra was established by representatives of the Tampa Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Symphony, who signed documents aboard a barge in Tampa Bay to merge the two cultural institutions. The founders selected as their first music director Irwin Hoffman, who left the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to come to Tampa Bay.

In 1988, Jahja Ling became music director. He has also held prestigious positions as resident conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra as well as music director of The Cleveland Orchestra's Blossom Music Festival. Ling is currently the music director of the San Diego Symphony. The 2001-2002 season marked Jahja Ling's final season as music director of The Florida Orchestra, and in May of 2002, Stefan Sanderling was appointed the current music director. In June 2006, Sanderling extended his contract with the Florida Orchestra through the 2010-2011 season ^{[1] [2]}.

The orchestra performs more than 120 concerts annually in the tri-city area of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. Concert series include the Progress Energy Masterworks, Raymond James Pops, Holland America Line Coffee Concerts, Pops in the Park Concerts, and youth concerts.

Education and Outreach

Designed to share the live symphonic experience with Tampa Bay, the orchestra’s education and outreach programs make music affordable and accessible to the community. Collectively, more than 75,000 people experience free Florida Orchestra programming each season.

The Heartstrings program allows underserved residents, including at-risk students, seniors, people with disabilities, and those facing financial challenges, to attend Masterworks and Pops concerts free of charge.

Free Youth Concerts: These specially designed concerts targeted at fourth and fifth graders are presented during the school day at one of the major concert halls in the area. Each year over 30,000 students attend one of the orchestra’s youth concerts.

Sphinx TFO Partnership: A national string program for African-American and Latino musicians, Sphinx offers an annual national competition, as well as training programs and professional development opportunities.

Young Artists Competition: The Florida Orchestra Young Artists Competition recognizes extraordinary young talent in the greater Tampa Bay area. The competition is open to students up to the age of 22, with senior (16-22) and junior (15 and younger) divisions.

Musicians in the Schools offers orchestra musicians the opportunity to support high school orchestra and band programs in Pinellas and Hillsborough County schools by working as sectional coaches, providing private instruction or conducting rehearsals.

Student Tickets: Students, teachers and education staff members may purchase individual $10 tickets with a valid school I.D. to most Florida Orchestra concerts.

Instrument Petting Zoo: This popular activity is a project of The Florida Orchestra Tampa Guild and features a collection of musical instruments that children can touch, blow, pluck, and strike.

Pops in the Park: Presented in both the spring and the fall, several of these parks concerts are located in historically low income or minority neighborhoods, reaching many who have never attended an orchestral concert.

Open Rehearsals: Students from middle school through college can attend dress rehearsals to witness how the conductor and musicians prepare that week’s program.

Side By Side Concerts provide young musicians an opportunity to rehearse and publicly perform with the orchestra’s professional musicians.

Music Directors

• Irwin Hoffman (1968-1988)
• Jahja Ling (1988-2002)
• Stefan Sanderling (2003-present)

References

1. John Fleming, "Maestro's song to play through 2011". ''St. Petersburg Times'', 8 June 2006.
2. Vivien Schweitzer, "Stefan Sanderling Extends Contract with Florida Orchestra". ''Playbill Arts'', 8 June 2006.