The History of the Orchestra
The Orchestra performs more than 125 classical, pops, chamber, education and community engagement concerts per season. Its first concert in 1949 was conducted by Dr. Lyman Wiltse, and under its original name, the Florida West Coast Symphony. Now the longest continuous performing Orchestra in the state of Florida, the organization has provided exceptional music under three previous music directors: Alexander Bloch, Paul Wolfe and Leif Bjaland. In 2008, the organization was renamed as the Sarasota Orchestra and launched new concert formats, vibrant marketing and innovative programming, bringing national attention to the 80-musician ensemble.
The organization’s educational activities include a youth orchestra program featuring seven ensembles, Young Person’s Concerts for all area fourth and fifth graders, and a summer music camp.
The Sarasota Orchestra also manages the internationally renowned Sarasota Music Festival, under the artistic leadership of Jeffrey Kahane. The Sarasota Music Festival is one of the world’s finest teaching festivals for pre-professional classical musicians.
1948
1948
Ruth Cotton Butler works with George Gibbs, Sam Hill and Dr. W.D. Sugg, to fulfill her dream of creating a community orchestra in Sarasota and Manatee.
1948
1949
1949
Florida West Coast Symphony performs its first public performance in collaboration with the Manatee River Choral Club of Bradenton.
1950
1950
Dr. Lyman Wiltse conducts first orchestral concert for the Florida West Coast Symphony on January 19 in the Manatee County High School Auditorium.
1950
1951
1951
Alexander Bloch succeeds Wiltse as the second music director of the Florida West Coast Symphony.
1953
1953
1,500 children attended the Children's Concerts program to give children their first taste of orchestral music. Today, the program is called Young Person's Concerts and is performed for 10,000 children.
1953
1955
1955
The Florida West Coast Symphony Orchestra Rehearsal Hall was completed in November.
1957
1957
Lota Mundy founded the Symphony Women’s Association, to “foster, promote and increase the musical knowledge, education and artistic appreciation of the community”.
1957
Dec 1958
1958
The New York Times calls the beginning of the Florida West Coast Symphony season the beginning of the music season in all of Florida.
1959
1959
The Youth Orchestra Program was founded through sponsorship of the Symphony Women's Association.
1959
1961
1961
Paul Wolfe began his tenure as the third music director.
1964
1964
Wolfe founded the Sarasota Music Festival at New College.
1964
1977
1977
The Florida West Coast Symphony introduced its Summer Music Camp.
1984
1984
The Sarasota Music Festival was designated by the Florida State legislature as the, ”Official teaching and performing Festival of the State of Florida.”
1984
1985
1985
The Sarasota Music Festival merged with the Florida West Coast Symphony.
1990s
1990s
The Florida West Coast Symphony evolved into a fully paid professional orchestra.
1990s
1997
1997
Leif Bjaland was appointed as the fourth music director.
1999
1999
Beatrice Friedman makes a $1 million gift to ensure successful completion of an endowment campaign.
1999
2001
2001
Executive Director Gretchen Serrie retired, and Joseph McKenna becomes administrative leader of the Florida West Coast Symphony.
2002
2002
The Florida West Coast Symphony was unionized under the American Federation of Musicians.
2002
2004
2004
First Pops subscriptions are offered.
2005
2005
Virginia Toulmin gifts $10 million to significantly increase the organization’s endowment.
2005
2008
2008
Youth Philharmonic debuts in Carnegie Hall.
2008
2008
The Florida West Coast Symphony rebranded, taking the name Sarasota Orchestra, and launching new series and innovative concert formats.
2008
2013
2013
Sarasota Youth Orchestra expands making a total of 7 ensembles within the Sarasota Youth Orchestras.
2013
2013
An international search results in the appointment of Anu Tali as fifth music director of the Sarasota Orchestra.
2013
