Music Center
A gathering place for all who wish to not just listen to great music, but truly experience it.

Vision

Now is the time to dream of, work toward and bring about a new vision for arts and culture in Sarasota and Manatee Counties with a Music Center that will expand our region’s cultural capacity for many generations.

As the area grows, and the arts and cultural community grows along with it, demand for performance, rehearsal and education space is eclipsing available supply. It’s challenging our ability and the ability of other community music programs to even maintain the status quo.

We envision a Music Center that not only addresses this critical need for expansion, but also elevates our community to new artistic heights with something it’s never had: a concert hall purpose-built for acoustic music.

impact

Bharat Chandra, Fernando Traba, and Edward Rumzis

More than seven decades ago, Sarasota music teacher, Ruth Cotton Butler, dreamt of creating an orchestra for her community. In less than a year, she rallied a community of like-minded music lovers for our first concerts … and the rest is history. 

Sarasota Orchestra has now been a part of a local arts community longer than any other orchestra in Florida. Driven by our mission to engage, educate and enrich our community through high-quality, live musical experiences, we are proud to have achieved significant community impact.

Musicians in Sarasota Orchestra

Musicians in Sarasota Orchestra

(48 full-time core musicians living in our community)

Concerts annually

Concerts annually

People experience our live musical performances each year

People experience our live musical performances each year

Students in Sarasota Youth Orchestras

Students in Sarasota Youth Orchestras

representing over 50 schools

Students in Summer Music Camp

Students in Summer Music Camp

Awarded annually in tuition scholarships

Awarded annually in tuition scholarships

Percentage of students who receive financial aid

Percentage of students who receive financial aid

Special price to most concerts for students under 25

Special price to most concerts for students under 25

(with student ID) and adults accompanying minors

Annual Festival pre-professional fellows from all over the world

Annual Festival pre-professional fellows from all over the world

Festival alumni in every major orchestra in the United States

Festival alumni in every major orchestra in the United States

Students who attend the Young Person’s Concerts annually

Students who attend the Young Person’s Concerts annually

Teachers who receive our Young Person's Concerts curriculum

Teachers who receive our Young Person's Concerts curriculum

People who attended a FREE family concert for all ages in 2018

People who attended a FREE family concert for all ages in 2018

Educational and promotional outreach activities

Educational and promotional outreach activities

Musicians in Sarasota Orchestra

Musicians in Sarasota Orchestra

(48 full-time core musicians living in our community)

Concerts annually

Concerts annually

People experience our live musical performances each year

People experience our live musical performances each year

Students in Sarasota Youth Orchestras

Students in Sarasota Youth Orchestras

representing over 50 schools

Students in Summer Music Camp

Students in Summer Music Camp

Music is at the Core of our Mission

Please enjoy a recording of the second movement from Mahler’s Symphony No. 4 performed in January 2023 by Sarasota Orchestra.

Community input

The Music Center will provide a space for the creation and sharing of music at the highest caliber by people of all ages and backgrounds, both onstage and off.  

  • A broadly distributed survey throughout our community confirmed most Sarasota-Manatee County residents believe the Music Center will become an important new performing arts asset and plan to attend events there in the future.
    • 85% support the Music Center project
    • 78% believe the Music Center will serve as an important cultural resource for our community
    • 85% recognize the impact an acoustic concert hall will have on the quality of audience experiences
    • 89% of people said they would be likely to attend future events at the new location
  • Nearly 30 local arts organizations shared positive feedback about the music center project, with an emphasis on the need for a permanent home to host rehearsals and performances.
  • Residential neighbors near the Music Center site have expressed enthusiasm and shared valuable input for consideration about outdoor parks and walking trails, parking and privacy.

Sarasota Orchestra's Arts Partners Share Their Thoughts on the Music Center

Sarasota Concert Association
The new Music Center would not only be a tremendous asset to the community…but it would be a great enhancement to our own Great Performers series and a significant benefit to our audiences.

Linda Moxley
Executive Director at Sarasota Concert Association

Sarasota Contemporary Dance
Accessing spaces and theaters in our area that can serve both dancers and musicians, is a challenge that personally affects our organization and arts community….The fact that the Music Center envisions to create an inclusive and flexible space for artists of various genres, is especially exciting for Sarasota Contemporary Dance.

Leymis Bolanos Wilmott
Co-founder & Artistic Director at Sarasota Contemporary Dance

Sarasota Contemporary Dance
[The Music Center] is an opportunity we should seize, which will exponentially bolster Sarasota’s reputation as the ‘Suncoast Culture Capital.

Jack Barnett
Board President of Sarasota Pops Orchestra

Sarasota Contemporary Dance
Key Chorale is looking ahead to present its 39th season in Sarasota. Never in those 39 years have we had a performance ‘home.’ Sarasota Orchestra has gone to great lengths to extend themselves, not only to Key Chorale, but to many smaller performing arts groups who wish to benefit from [its] plans to build a Music Center.

Joseph Caulkins
Artistic Director at Key Chorale

We welcome the community’s continued input. Please direct questions and feedback about the project to questions@sarasotaorchestra.org.

concert hall

Imagine a concert experience in which every note, every nuance and every harmony is heard perfectly from every seat, resonating exactly as the conductor and musicians intend. This is our vision for the Music Center’s acoustically engineered concert hall – the fourth in Florida and first on Florida’s Gulf Coast.

Just as the right instrument can elevate a musical talent from good to great, a concert hall designed and built for acoustic music has the potential to elevate Sarasota Orchestra to ever-greater artistic heights.  Moreover, generations of audiences will be transformed by the music that envelops them.   

Thoughts from Our Creative Consultant

A great concert hall is an inspiration for musicians to explore the myriad possibilities in orchestra sound and have the confidence that their every expression is reaching the audience with immediacy and power.

Peter Oundjian
Peter Oundjian
Creative Consultant

Sarasota Orchestra Musicians Share Their Thoughts
on the Impact of a Great Concert Hall

A great concert hall with outstanding acoustics allows audiences to both ‘hear’ and ‘feel’ the music, in a shared experience with the orchestra.

Peter Oundjian
Fernando Traba
Principal Bassoon 

Great concert halls attract and inspire both people who love classical music and are new to the experience.

Peter Oundjian
Justin Vibbard
Principal Librarian 

A great concert hall is a place where the next generation of musicians are inspired and challenged to listen, learn, and participate in enriching the entire community.

Peter Oundjian
Natalie Helm
Principal Cello 

A great concert hall is a musical home with which the entire community takes pride and immerses itself in joy.

Peter Oundjian
John Miller
Principal Bass 

Facility Design

The Music Center’s location at 5701 Fruitville Road creates a tremendous opportunity for Sarasota Orchestra and our partner organizations to inspire new levels of innovation, collaboration and discovery through diverse activities in a natural setting.

Sarasota Orchestra Muisc Center Site

Primary features of the Music Center will include

  • Concert Hall: State-of-the-art acoustic space with 1,800 seats, including a center aisle.
  • Flexible Performance Space: Flexible space with 700 removable seats to accommodate a range of programs.
  • Modern Patron Conveniences: Split aisles for more easily accessible seating, modern air handling and related technology for audience comfort and safety, and ample parking, covered valet and drop off areas.
  • Rehearsal and Practice Rooms: Multiple rehearsal and practice rooms suitable for ensembles of all sizes, serving the Orchestra’s Education and Festival programs and community arts organizations.
  • Music Library: Secure, weather-proof storage for the Orchestra’s vast collection of sheet music and archives, as well as adequate workspaces for preparing music for performances.
  • Backstage Spaces for Musicians: Dedicated areas for musicians to comfortably store cases, warm up and prepare for performances.
  • Function Hall: Community event space and reception area.
  • Orchestra Administrative Offices and Storage Space: Much-needed space for administrative functions and enhanced storage spaces.
  • Natural Settings: Roughly 12 acres dedicated to wetlands, water features, natural parks and trails.

Project News & Updates

Music Center Planning Updates

  • SARASOTA ORCHESTRA MUSIC CENTER UPDATE | APRIL 2023

    It’s official!

    Representatives from Sarasota Orchestra's board, staff, and musicians

    On Tuesday, Sarasota Orchestra completed its purchase of the 32-acre parcel at 5701 Fruitville Road, reaching a significant milestone in the journey to build a new Music Center.

    Read more...
  • SARASOTA ORCHESTRA MUSIC CENTER UPDATE | January 2023

    WHAT TO KNOW

    • On Jan. 18, Sarasota County Commissioners unanimously approved our application for re-zoning and special exceptions for the land where we plan to build a music center.
    • Sarasota Orchestra can now move forward with purchase of the 32-acre parcel at 5701 Fruitville Road.
    • Along with increased space for rehearsal, storage and education activities, the proposed music center will bring our region something it has never had: a state-of-the-art concert hall with outstanding acoustics.
    Read more...
  • SARASOTA ORCHESTRA MUSIC CENTER UPDATE | December 2022

    Last week, we were delighted to achieve another key milestone in our journey toward bringing Sarasota Orchestra’s new music center to life.

    The Sarasota County Planning Commission unanimously approved our application for re-zoning and special exceptions.

    Read more...
  • TAKE OUR SURVEY AND HELP INFORM OUR PATH | October 2022

    Sarasota Orchestra is looking to the future, and to the important role that a new Music Center will play in the vision for our entire community.

    Read more...
  • SARASOTA ORCHESTRA MUSIC CENTER UPDATE | AUGUST 2022

    Honoring Our Music Director’s Legacy

    When we first announced the music center site in March, our beloved Music Director Bramwell Tovey recognized an acoustic concert hall would have a transformative impact on our community.

    “For an orchestra to best resonate, it must be done naturally, in an acoustic hall,” he said.

    Read more...
  • SARASOTA ORCHESTRA MUSIC CENTER UPDATE | JUNE 2022

    When we announced in March that Sarasota Orchestra identified a site for our new home, we expressed a desire to develop our new music center and acoustically engineered concert hall into a valuable arts and cultural asset in which everyone in our dynamic region may take immense pride.

    We are excited to share the first of many updates with you as work continues to realize this vision.

    Read more...
  • Sarasota Orchestra Identifies Site for New Home

    Florida’s Longest-Standing Orchestra Will Bring the Region its First State-of-the-Art Concert Hall Designed Specifically for Acoustic Music

    Read more...

In the News

Project Milestones

2014

Needs assessment and market analysis projects commence

2014

2017

Space program determined

2018

Site search begins

2018

2021

Due diligence completed for 5701 Fruitville Road

2022

Intent to purchase announced
Zoning approval process begins
Survey of Sarasota and Manatee County residents completed

2022

2023

Sarasota County approves zoning amendments
Land purchase completed
Fundraising feasibility study (anticipated)

Music Center FAQs

Why does Sarasota Orchestra need its own Music Center?

Sarasota Orchestra is planning a Music Center that will expand the Sarasota-Manatee region’s cultural capacity for many generations. As the area grows, and the arts and cultural community grows along with it, demand for performance, rehearsal and education space is eclipsing available supply. The Music Center will address this critical need for expansion and elevate the community to new artistic heights with something the region has never had: a concert hall purpose-built for acoustic music.

Music Center Site at Sunset

Give to the
Annual Fund

Gifts to the Annual Fund ensure that Sarasota Orchestra can continue to share the gift of music with our community through concerts, education and outreach programs. Please join us by making a donation today. Together, we can keep the music playing, now and always.

Don't Miss These
Special Events

Join us to celebrate our 75th Anniversary at these exciting events.


Masterworks Dinners
Six Dinners throughout the season

Orchestra Brunch
Sunday, November 12, 2023

75th Anniversary Concert and Gala
Thursday, February 15, 2024

Image

Contact Us

 Address

709 N Tamiami Tr, Sarasota, FL 34236

 Phone

Box Office: 941.953.3434
Administration: 941.953.4252

 Box Office Hours:

Our staff is here to help by phone, email, or in-person Monday-Friday from 10am-4pm.

Box Office Information
 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

About Us

Our mission is to engage, educate, and enrich our community through high-quality, live musical experiences.

Review the Orchestra

Review the Sarasota Orchestra on TripAdvisor Review the Sarasota Orchestra on Facebook