TFO sits Side by Side with young musicians
throughout Tampa Bay
In The Florida Orchestra’s 50th anniversary season, we have already rehearsed and performed
side-by-side with 275 students throughout Hillsborough and Pasco counties, with more to
come. In these events, young musicians are seated next to the professional musicians of TFO
so students can see rst-hand what it takes to play in an orchestra of this caliber. A renowned
conductor such as Michael Francis or Larry Rachleff will lead the group as they work on elements
including dynamics and articulation.
TFO has been providing these side-by-side opportunities for over 20 years. Below are stories
of past students who participated in side by sides with TFO when they were young musicians
growing up in Tampa Bay.
THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA | 2017-2018
Ashley Hedrick played bassoon in the Tampa Bay Youth
Orchestra in 2001 when the youth orchestra rehearsed
side by side with TFO. Today she is a freelance bassoonist
and contrabassoonist and performs throughout Florida,
Georgia, and South Carolina with groups such as the
Charleston Symphony and Opera Tampa. “We were all
in awe of their professionalism and seeing these were
the people who made it. We knew there was a future as
musicians.”
Violinist Anna Luce played side by side with TFO as
a student with the Tampa Bay Youth Orchestra in
2000. Now she is preparing to embark on a tour as the
concertmaster for the National Hamilton Tour. “There is
nothing like being an aspiring violinist and sitting next to
a professional at such a young age. I remember thinking, ‘I
denitely want to do this one day,’ and ‘man this is hard’”
For more side-by-side stories, please visit our new blog at
FloridaOrchestra.org/blog.
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