Chair’s Reflections
THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA | 2018-2019
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Dear Friends,
Welcome to the 51st season of The Florida Orchestra and to this
performance. I am honored to serve as the Chair of this incredible
community asset and cultural gem in our region. We are so proud of
the quality and variety of music we perform, none of which would
be possible without TFO’s outstanding musicians and Music Director
Michael Francis. Their talent and teamwork bring the powerful
experience of live symphonic music to our Tampa Bay communities.
As Maestro Francis begins his fourth season as music director, we are
firmly rooted in a new era at The Florida Orchestra. After a stellar
50th anniversary, Michael has once again created a season that
brings world-renowned guest artists to Tampa Bay stages, along
with thrilling masterpieces and composers. I have no doubt you will be delighted by our performances.
In addition to excellence in the concert hall, we continue to be inspired by Michael’s dedication to reach
the entire Tampa Bay area and beyond. We feel a sense of social responsibility that takes us out of our
concert halls and deeper into our communities to educate and inspire. We believe this art form transforms
lives and communities and are committed to providing this shared experience. The Florida Orchestra’s
Community Engagement Department has expanded at incredible speed to meet this challenge, and we are
grateful for the generous support we have received from our patrons to continue this work.
We now have two Teaching Artists who split their time between Pinellas County schools and performing
onstage with the orchestra. This first-in-the-nation program provides expertise in artistry and education to
teachers and students in as many as 40 schools throughout Pinellas. The commitment of these musicians
to the mission of The Florida Orchestra is inspiring.
We are also proud to welcome a new member of The Florida Orchestra’s artistic team, Assistant Conductor
Daniel Black. He will conduct the orchestra’s community concerts in parks, hospitals and schools and act
as the dedicated conductor for our very popular youth concerts, which reach more than 26,000 students
a year in Pinellas, Hillsborough and Pasco counties. This year The Florida Orchestra has teamed up with
Tampa Bay teachers to self-produce these youth concerts, which are often a student’s first full orchestra
experience. Now these concerts better fit teachers’ needs throughout the school year.
Thank you for being part of Tampa Bay’s leading performing arts institution and one of the most vibrant
and innovative orchestras in America. I hope you will join us again soon.
Warm regards,
Janet E. Paroo