Sarasota philanthropists Tom and Sherry Koski have contributed $5 million to Sarasota Orchestra in support of its Music Center, reflecting their belief in the power of live music to inspire future generations and their commitment to sustaining Sarasota’s legacy of cultural excellence.
As a member of the Orchestra’s Board of Directors since 2014, and now serving as its chair, Tom has been a driving force in shaping the organization’s vision for the future. He and Sherry believe the Music Center marks a defining moment that will secure Sarasota’s artistic future and deepen the Orchestra’s impact across the community through music education.
“There is nothing wrong with this world that a great education can’t fix, and you can’t have a great education without the arts”, said Tom Koski, chair of Sarasota Orchestra’s Board of Directors. “For Sherry and me, this gift is deeply personal, and we feel this is our lasting legacy to the Sarasota community we love. The Music Center and its world-class concert hall will be an important tile in the mosaic for performing arts in Sarasota.”
Rising on a campus devoted to performance, rehearsal and learning, the Music Center will give more young people the chance to discover the wonder of live music, whether sitting in the audience for a Young Person’s Concert or stepping onto the stage beside professional musicians during the Orchestra’s annual side-by-side performance. For many students, it will be their first time hearing an orchestra in a concert hall designed for acoustic music – a moment that can spark a lifelong connection to the arts.
With rehearsal rooms able to accommodate a variety of ensembles, its Education Center will create new opportunities for more students to engage in music education through lessons and an expanded Youth Orchestras program, which is operating at capacity in current facilities.
Beyond education, the project will enrich the cultural and economic fabric of the region, with an unparalleled acoustic environment where audiences can experience the full depth, clarity and emotional power of live orchestral performance. It will also address a regional shortage of performance space, opening doors for more concerts, community events and collaborations that allow more people to participate in and enjoy the arts. By building infrastructure that supports both music education and artistic innovation, the campus will strengthen Sarasota’s creative economy and enhance quality of life for generations to come.
“Tom and Sherry’s leadership and generosity embody the spirit that has sustained Sarasota Orchestra for 75 years and cemented Sarasota’s legacy as a beacon for the arts,” said David Green, vice chair of Sarasota Orchestra’s Board of Directors. “They give not for recognition, but because they truly care about this Orchestra, our musicians and the community we serve. This gift to the Music Center is an extraordinary expression of their faith in the Orchestra’s future and their enduring belief in the arts as a force for good in our community.”
The Koskis’ gift builds on their enduring history of philanthropy and volunteer leadership across Sarasota’s arts and education community. Together, they have supported initiatives at Ringling College of Art and Design, the Sarasota Art Museum, Marie Selby Botanical Gardens and the Education Foundation of Sarasota County, among many others, helping expand learning opportunities for students of all ages to grow through the arts. Their dedication to holistically supporting Sarasota is also reflected by Sherry’s service on the board of Selby Gardens and past service on the board of Pines of Sarasota. A Sarasota native and graduate of Sarasota High School’s Class of 1978, Tom returned home in 2009 after a successful career in the wireless communications industry and has since continued his family’s tradition of investing in the community.
The project reached a milestone last month with the completion of schematic design and continues to progress toward design development, the next step in preparing for construction. Fueled entirely by philanthropy, the Music Center is tracking toward its groundbreaking in 2027 through the generosity and vision of community leaders in Sarasota, like Tom and Sherry Koski.
