The Tampa Bay Symphony's history began in 1975 when the St. Petersburg Community Symphony was founded by Marco del Grande, a Realtor, and his wife, Kathy, a violinist.  In 1984 they changed the name to the Tampa Bay Community Symphony because the orchestra was performing in locations in addition to St. Petersburg. Bruce LeBaron was the conductor. After the 1985-1986 season, the del Grande’s and the other board members decided they weren’t getting enough support from the community, and they dissolved the non-profit corporation.

Many of the musicians weren’t ready to give up. That summer, in time for the November 1986 concerts, violinist Conrad Denny led a reorganization under a new name, the Tampa Bay Symphony, Inc., with 50 musicians from the Tampa Bay Community Symphony, 30 new ones, and a new board made up of musicians plus an attorney. They asked Dr. Jack Heller, chairman of the music department at the University of South Florida, to be music director and conductor, a post he held for 25 great years. Halina Bobrow, formerly in the Cleveland Orchestra, was concertmistress for 24 years. Tony Skey was principal second violin.

Today, the Tampa Bay Symphony has performed around Pinellas and Hillsborough counties, including venues such as the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center (now the Straz Center), Ruth Eckerd Hall, Mahaffey Theater, and the Palladium.

For over 30 years, the Tampa Bay Symphony has sponsored a Young Artist Competition, one of the first orchestras in the southeast, professional or volunteer, to implement such a competition. The winner performs one movement of a concerto with the orchestra at a future concert series, and receives a $3,000 scholarship.

In 2016, a national competition for composers was implemented, which became international in scope in 2017, with 90 entries from 16 different countries. The works of the selected finalists are played through by the orchestra, who vote to select the winning composition and perform it at the Spring Series.

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