TFO Blog
Welcome to The Florida Orchestra Blog
Our goal: a steady beat of TFO stories you won’t get anywhere else, including news, peeks backstage, concert previews, musician profiles, photo albums, videos and much more. Make your TFO concert experience exceptional, and join the conversation with The Florida Orchestra’s blog.
‘1812 Overture’ cannon blasts: How do they do that?
Brace yourself for the boom of cannons, when The Florida Orchestra lights the fuse on Tchaikovsky’s rousing and riotous fanfare, the 1812 Overture.
TFO’s triumphant ‘Carmina Burana’ concert coming to WSMR radio
Starting this Thursday, you can hear a full Florida Orchestra concert on Tampa Bay’s classical radio station WSMR. And it’s a doozy: the phenomenal performance of Carmina Burana recorded live on opening night little more than a week ago.
From GEICO to TFO: the epic Triangle Solo
When Florida Orchestra Principal Percussionist John Shaw first saw the GEICO “Triangle Solo” commercial on TV, his wife said, “Don’t do that onstage.” She should have known better.
What is a sensory-friendly Family Concert?
By Erin Horan TFO Community Engagement Director This Saturday, The Florida Orchestra horn section will…
New principal clarinet takes over on stage – and behind the wheel
For the first time in more than four decades, The Florida Orchestra has a new principal clarinet on stage. Meet Natalie Hoe, 23, who makes her debut this weekend when TFO opens its 50th anniversary season with Carmina Burana. This is Hoe’s first professional position, which she was awarded...
Flutists make their own Harry Potter magic with recorders
In last weekend’s concerts of Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Principal Flute Clay Ellerbroek and Assistant Principal Flute Daphne Soellner performed partly on recorders. And they will again on the just announced second movie, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. They didn’t have to; the parts were optional. So why go to all the trouble? Ellerbroek explains.
Carmina Burana: From Bucs game to LIVE in concert
It might be the most popular piece of classical music you’ve never heard of. Such is the fate of Carmina Burana, a rousing and exotic work for chorus and orchestra by the German composer Carl Orff, who would be blown away by how his lone masterpiece has populated popular culture.
Michael Francis in Action: From Windsor Castle to Zombies
Being a music director is a lot more than leading an orchestra on stage. Nobody knows that better than Michael Francis. Just look at where he’s popped up within the last two weeks as we get ready to launch our 50th anniversary season.
If you want Sting tickets Monday, here’s the deal
Ever since we announced The Florida Orchestra's 50th anniversary gala concert with Sting, it’s been pretty crazy at the orchestra offices. It quickly became apparent that because this is not a typical Florida Orchestra concert, we could not sell tickets the typical way.
Welcome to the new TFO Blog
Let’s get the most obvious question out of the way: Why start a blog? Because we think there’s a lot you’d like to know about your Florida Orchestra, especially as we celebrate our 50th anniversary. There is an insane amount going on this season!