Longtime Sarasota Orchestra supporters Jack and Priscilla Schlegel have made a transformative $10 million gift to advance the future Music Center at 5701 Fruitville Road. Their investment marks a major milestone for the project and reflects an enduring belief in the power of the arts to shape and strengthen a community.
Jack and Priscilla Schlegel, who relocated from Washington, D.C. to Sarasota in 1998, have been active supporters of the local arts community for more than two decades. Regular attendees at Sarasota Orchestra performances, the Schlegels view philanthropy as a way to invest in the region’s growth and cultural vitality.
“Over the past 25 years, we have witnessed Sarasota Orchestra transform into a fully professional orchestra that is rapidly becoming one of the best regional orchestras in the country,” said Jack and Priscilla Schlegel. “The last two Music Director appointments and the purchase of the Music Center site have inspired us to be ‘all in’ with our support. We believe these milestones will place both Sarasota and the Orchestra, with its new concert hall, on the map as a premier cultural destination.”
Their latest gift builds on a legacy of generosity and will help advance the planning and design of the Music Center — a landmark initiative to bring the Gulf Coast of Florida its first concert hall purpose-built for acoustic music.
The Schlegels have played a critical role in sustaining Sarasota Orchestra through pivotal moments, including providing key support during the COVID-19 pandemic and to early Music Center planning phases. Their actions reflect a deeply held belief that music is essential to the region’s spirit.
“For decades, Jack and Priscilla Schlegel have set an inspiring example of visionary leadership and generosity in our community, helping to power Sarasota Orchestra forward,” said Joseph McKenna, President and CEO of Sarasota Orchestra. “They have always understood our vision and have been dedicated to helping us achieve it. We couldn’t be more grateful for their continued support of our Orchestra.”
The Schlegels will be recognized for their investment during Sarasota Orchestra’s Discoveries: Vivaldi Inspired performance on Saturday, May 17 at 7:30 p.m. at Sarasota Opera House.
This $10 million gift to the Music Center follows a historic $60 million anonymous gift announced earlier this year and reflects the project’s continued momentum.
Sarasota Orchestra is collaborating with an internationally recognized team of architects, designers and engineers, including Stages Consultants (acoustics/theater planning), William Rawn Associates (architecture), HKS (architecture/engineering) and OJB Landscape Architecture, to transform the 32-acre site into an iconic cultural destination.
