The arts are a vital part of a thriving and successful community, and The Florida Orchestra is proud to use its reach to assist or promote other Bay area organizations in partnership programs.
The orchestra’s Pops in the Park concerts, sponsored by private and public funds, give more than 25,000 Bay area residents the opportunity to enjoy a free performance in a beautiful outdoor setting.
Since 1996, Tampa Bay Harvest has partnered with the orchestra at its annual Vinoy Park concert in St. Petersburg, collecting non-perishable food items for distribution to local food pantries. During the 2008/09 season, TFO expanded this partnership to include all park concerts in Tampa and also accepted donations at several subscription concerts as part of a hunger awareness event involving orchestras around the country. In total, more than 22,000 pounds of food were collected and distributed to local families in need.
“Without help from people at all levels, like those at the orchestra, we would not be effective in our mission of feeding the hungry.”
- Will Carey, General Manager for Tampa Bay Harvest, Inc.
The Heartstrings program, made possible by contributions to the Annual Fund, allows the orchestra to share the experience of live symphonic music with community groups and organizations as a ‘thank you’ for their service within the Tampa Bay area.
The Florida Orchestra has reached out to MacDill Air Force Base, offering free tickets to service members and their families. One MacDill employee recounted the experience of attending a concert with a soldier and his wife:
“The evening was a far cry from hearing bullets, mortars and explosions in both Iraq and Afghanistan. We watched as his wife talked about the different musical selections - she was a cellist in high school - and the smiles on their faces were worth a million dollars. They normally would not have gone, due the cost, but the Heartstrings program made their special night a reality.
"Heartstrings is an outstanding program that touches the heart with outstanding music. Our military members and their families benefit from having a program that opens doors to hear a fantastic orchestra perform anything from the classics to Broadway."
- David Winters, Air Force Employee, Mac Dill AFB
Donna Thompson, Pinellas County Group Leader for Southeastern Guide Dogs, has used her relationship with the orchestra to arrange for guide dogs in training, along with their volunteer handlers, to attend a concert with a sighted trainer to give the dogs a unique opportunity to hone their skills.
“Each guide dog team attending [this event] brings us one step closer to fulfilling our mission to provide a professionally-trained guide dog to a visually impaired person…Our motto, ‘Forward Together’ is made possible because of the support from our partner The Florida Orchestra.”
- Donna Thompson, Pinellas County Group Leader for Southeastern Guide Dogs
Beginning this fall, The Florida Orchestra and the Studio@620 are launching An Intimate Collaboration, a series of four entertaining and sparkling multi-disciplined “happenings” to create a different kind of awareness about the inter-relatedness of the arts in our community. Sure to spark lively conversations before you reach the concert hall, these will take place prior to four of this season’s Masterworks concerts. The inaugural event, Rhythms of Life, will be held on Tuesday, October 6th , from 7:30 to 9:00 pm at Studio@620, linking you to The Florida Orchestra’s opening Masterworks series concert Rhythms on Fire taking place on October 9, 10 & 11. The event will feature Maestro Stefan Sanderling and friends in an animated evening of conversation, music and other artistic connections and inspirations. An Intimate Collaboration series will continue on the following mid-week evenings: November 3rd, December 2nd and January 5th. The Studio@620 is located at 620 First Avenue South in downtown St. Petersburg. For more information, visit http://www.studio620.org/620/calendar.php or call 727.895-6620. Seating is limited – Reservations required. Suggested donation $10.
Thank you to our Partnership Sponsors:
| City of Clearwater | Homes by Helen |
| City of St. Petersburg | Pinellas County Cultural Affairs |
| City of Tampa | St. Petersburg Clearwater Area |
| Florida Division of Cultural Affairs | Convention and Visitors Bureau |
| St. Petersburg College | |
