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.
Winter dreaming: Don’t underestimate Tchaikovsky & Sibelius
Get a fresh take on Tchaikovsky’s seriously underrated Symphony No. 1 and the rest of this weekend’s concert straight from the conductor, Daniel Black – his debut on our Masterworks series.
Eric Whitacre: Superstar composer and space nerd
Today, nearly 30 years later, Hubble continues to inspire, and not just scientists – but artists, writers and musicians. Eric Whitacre is one of them. The Grammy-winning composer is a certified space nerd and delighted in creating a score to accompany a visual mosaic of Hubble images from far, far away.
Meet new Principal Tuba TJ Graf
One of Principal Tuba TJ Graf’s most memorable performances was on the football field instead of the stage: the Super Bowl XLVIII Halftime Show with Bruno Mars and the Red Hot Chili Peppers in 2014.
Florida composers write Beethoven-inspired fanfares
In honor of the 250th anniversary of Beethoven’s birth, The Florida Orchestra is partnering with Florida colleges and universities to co-commission five short fanfares inspired by Beethoven.
Why would anyone mess with a Beethoven masterpiece?
This week is a rare performance of the Mahler version of Beethoven's Eroica. What the heck does that mean? And why would anyone mess with a masterpiece? Kurt Loft explains today on the TFO blog.
Opening Night concerts dig into cultural roots of Tampa Bay
It’s Opening Week! Find out more about your favorite earworm works – Bolero! Grieg’s Piano Concerto! -- and how they reflect Tampa Bay’s culture, today on the TFO Blog.
From one blank canvas to innovative ‘Don Quixote’ concert
We are fusing art with music to perform Strauss’ Don Quixote like no other orchestra anywhere. Read about TFO’s first-ever visual artist-in-residence today on the TFO Blog.
TFO’s community programs jump 47%, reaching 91,000
91,000! That’s how many we reached last season through our mostly free community and education programs, such as violin lessons for kids and Pops in the Park concerts. How did Michael Francis and TFO grow these programs 47% in just four years? Today on the TFO Blog.
He’ll always be a one-note wonder for alligators
Principal Tuba Bill Mickelsen has played thousands of concerts for TFO in 40 years, but few notes have resonated like low B-flat for a swamp full of alligators. We look back with author Jeff Klinkenberg as Bill retires.
TFO offers 20 free Instrument Petting Zoos for summer
Might not sound like Mozart – yet! – but kids can feel like him when…