The mission of Tampa Friends of The Florida Orchestra is to support The Florida Orchestra by providing financial support, volunteering, and raising awareness of their music and community activities.
Tampa Friends of The Florida Orchestra was initially conceived during a Steering Committee led by the late Gayle Bertelstein in late 2019. It was developed as a support group for The Florida Orchestra (TFO) in Tampa, under the TFO organization.
Due to the Covid pandemic, our initial meetings were held via Zoom in 2020, with TFO musicians supporting us by Zooming in with their respective instruments. In-person events began in 2021. Our social activities expanded over the next two years, as did our financial support of The Florida Orchestra. In January 2023, we became an independent nonprofit organization with our own 501(c)3 designation from the IRS.
Tampa Friends of The Florida Orchestra is a group of music lovers who support The Florida Orchestra through fundraising and volunteering. Our meetings are primarily social events, usually held in private homes or condominium buildings, rather than business meetings. This format allows members to get to know one another more personally.
Our events typically feature a TFO musician who shares their experiences and performs several selections on their instrument. Occasionally a TFO staff member joins us to speak about their role and how we can further support The Florida Orchestra.
Tampa Friends holds several fundraising events each year to benefit The Florida Orchestra, including an annual Gala. Visit our Calendar page for information on upcoming events and follow us on Facebook (Tampa Friends of The Florida Orchestra). Our Gallery page features photos from past events.