The Florida Orchestra
Encyclopedia
The Florida Orchestra is a performing arts company located in Tampa Bay
, Florida
. It is one of the leading professional symphony orchestras in Florida, and one of the best regional orchestras in America.. Its present day leader is Music Director Stefan Sanderling
.
The orchestra was founded as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony in 1968, established by representatives of the Tampa Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Symphony, who merged the two cultural institutions. The founders selected Irwin Hoffmann, who left the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to come to Tampa Bay, as their first music director.
The Florida Orchestra performs regularly in the tri-city area of Tampa
, Clearwater
, and St. Petersburg
. Concert series include the "Masterworks", "Raymond James Pops", "Coffee Concerts", "Pops in the Park" Concerts, along with youth concerts.
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, and in May 2002, Stefan Sanderling was appointed the current music director.
Tampa Bay
Tampa Bay is a large natural harbor and estuary along the Gulf of Mexico on the west central coast of Florida, comprising Hillsborough Bay, Old Tampa Bay, Middle Tampa Bay, and Lower Tampa Bay."Tampa Bay" is not the name of any municipality...
, Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
. It is one of the leading professional symphony orchestras in Florida, and one of the best regional orchestras in America.. Its present day leader is Music Director Stefan Sanderling
Stefan Sanderling
Stefan Sanderling is an orchestral conductor. His parents are the conductor Kurt Sanderling and the double-bass player Barbara Sanderling. His half-brother is the conductor Thomas Sanderling. His brother Michael Sanderling is a cellist and conductor.In his youth, Sanderling played the piano and...
.
The orchestra was founded as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony in 1968, established by representatives of the Tampa Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Symphony, who merged the two cultural institutions. The founders selected Irwin Hoffmann, who left the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to come to Tampa Bay, as their first music director.
The Florida Orchestra performs regularly in the tri-city area of Tampa
Tâmpa
Tâmpa may refer to several villages in Romania:* Tâmpa, a village in Băcia Commune, Hunedoara County* Tâmpa, a village in Miercurea Nirajului, Mureş County* Tâmpa, a mountain in Braşov city...
, Clearwater
Clearwater
-Places:Canada* Clearwater, British Columbia* Clearwater, Manitoba* Clearwater County, Alberta* Clear Water Academy, a private Catholic school located in Calgary, Alberta...
, and St. Petersburg
St. Petersburg, Florida
St. Petersburg is a city in Pinellas County, Florida, United States. It is known as a vacation destination for both American and foreign tourists. As of 2008, the population estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau is 245,314, making St...
. Concert series include the "Masterworks", "Raymond James Pops", "Coffee Concerts", "Pops in the Park" Concerts, along with youth concerts.
History
In 1988, Jahja LingJahja Ling
Jahja Ling is an orchestra conductor. He is of Chinese descent and is now an American citizen. He began to play the piano at age 4 and studied at the Yayasan Pendidikan Musik School of Music. At age 17, he won the Jakarta Piano Competition and, one year later, was awarded a Rockefeller grant to...
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
Blossom Festival
The Blossom Festival is a summer music festival of orchestral music located at the Blossom Music Center in Cuyahoga Falls, Ohio. The festival was originally created to provide a summer concert vehicle for the Cleveland Orchestra and the Blossom Music Center was specifically built to host the 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, and in May 2002, Stefan Sanderling was appointed the current music director.
Music Directors
- Irwin HoffmanIrwin HoffmanIrwin Hoffman is an American conductor, born in New York. He was a protege of Serge Koussevitsky. He conducted the Vancouver Symphony from 1952 to 1964, after which he became Associate Conductor of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. He was Acting Music Director of the Chicago Symphony for one...
(1968–1988) - Jahja LingJahja LingJahja Ling is an orchestra conductor. He is of Chinese descent and is now an American citizen. He began to play the piano at age 4 and studied at the Yayasan Pendidikan Musik School of Music. At age 17, he won the Jakarta Piano Competition and, one year later, was awarded a Rockefeller grant to...
(1988–2002) - Stefan SanderlingStefan SanderlingStefan Sanderling is an orchestral conductor. His parents are the conductor Kurt Sanderling and the double-bass player Barbara Sanderling. His half-brother is the conductor Thomas Sanderling. His brother Michael Sanderling is a cellist and conductor.In his youth, Sanderling played the piano and...
(2003–present)