The Florida Orchestra’s history is steeped in orchestral tradition from both sides of Tampa Bay. In 1966, the Tampa Philharmonic and St. Petersburg Symphony merged as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony, which opened its first season on November 14, 1968, under the baton of Music Director Irwin Hoffman. Performing as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony until changing its name to The Florida Orchestra in 1984, the orchestra has since been led by music directors Jahja Ling and Stefan Sanderling. In 2015, Michael Francis took over as music director. 

Over the years, The Florida Orchestra has had a series of successes. In 2011, it launched a multi-year cultural exchange with the Cuban Institute of Music as well as its Accessibility Initiative, which effectively reduced ticket prices to all of its Masterworks and Pops concerts. The orchestra also has taken steps to be more involved with the Tampa Bay community, including a collaboration with the Tampa Bay Lightning to produce the team’s onetime theme song and free pop-up concerts in hospitals, malls and beyond. To showcase its artistic excellence, the orchestra released a CD featuring music by Florida influenced classical composer Frederick Delius on the Naxos label in 2012. On the CD, the orchestra is joined by The Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and baritone Leon Williams in a performance of Delius’ Sea Drift and Appalachia. In 2014, the orchestra released another CD, Holiday Pops Live! on its label TFO Live! 

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 most vibrant orchestras in America. Through extraordinary musical performances, the orchestra inspires the people of Tampa Bay and serves as a leader and beacon for the musical arts throughout the state.

Performing Arts

The Florida Orchestra

The Florida Orchestra's headquarters in St Petersburg, FL, United States

Ignacio Barrón Viela

Lori Osborne

Michelle Kim-Painter

Erik Shinn

Susana Weymouth

The Orchestral Musicians team at The Florida Orchestra is composed of highly skilled instrumentalists who collaborate to deliver exceptional performances of classical and contemporary repertoire. They play a crucial role in rehearsals and concerts, contributing to the orchestra's artistic excellence and overall mission to inspire and engage the Tampa Bay community through music. Each musician, from string players to woodwind and percussion sections, brings their unique sound and expertise to create a harmonious experience for audiences.

Orchestral Musicians

The Leadership Team at The Florida Orchestra is responsible for guiding the strategic vision and operational direction of the organization. This team, comprising key artistic and executive leaders, collaborates to enhance artistic programming, community engagement, and financial sustainability, ensuring that the orchestra maintains its status as a premier performing arts institution in Tampa Bay while fostering a deep connection with the local community.

The Florida Orchestra

Org chart

Teams

Orchestral Musicians

Leadership Team

Offices

The Florida Orchestra

Org chart

Teams

Orchestral Musicians

Leadership Team

Offices

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