ST. PETERSBURG, FL – New Assistant Conductor Chelsea Gallo will make her debut at The Florida Orchestra’s free Pops in the Park concert at Vinoy Park, the orchestra announced. This year, TFO’s largest concert of the year will bring family-friendly music to St. Petersburg’s waterfront in September to celebrate the opening of the 55th season with the community.
The Vinoy Park concert will be Saturday, Sept. 24, at 7:30 pm and feature film scores, Broadway hits and light classical favorites, conducted by Gallo. The nearly 30-year tradition annually packs the park with about 15,000 patrons, who spread out elaborate picnics with candelabras for free music under the stars.
TFO will give an encore performance on Sunday, Oct. 2, at 7:30 pm at River Tower Park in Tampa. The spring Pops in the Park concert will be on Mother’s Day, May 14, at 7:45 pm at Julian B. Lane Riverfront Park in Tampa. All park concerts will have food trucks from Gulf to Bay Food Truck Association. In a longstanding tradition, TFO will collect non-perishable goods for Tampa Bay Harvest’s annual food drive.
This fall is Gallo’s first season with the orchestra. She will lead TFO’s youth and community concerts, conduct select Raymond James Pops and Morning Coffee concerts and regularly assist Music Director Michael Francis and other conductors. Click here for more on Chelsea Gallo.
The non-profit Florida Orchestra exists to INSPIRE – UNITE – EDUCATE as we build community. TFO’s free and low-cost community concerts break down barriers to ensure everyone has access to the power of live music.
The orchestra announced more community concerts, including the return of Sing Out Tampa Bay, the popular sing-along concert put on pause for the pandemic. Maestro Francis’ signature Inside the Inside the Music series helps unlock the secrets to composers and their masterpieces so audiences can form a deeper connection with the music. Admission to all is pay what you can. Here are details:
Inside the Music with Michael Francis
Sponsored by the Cassaly Foundation
With wit, smart analysis and live orchestra demos, Michael Francis takes you on a journey through a single work before a full performance. Admission: Pay what you can at the door, general admission
• Inside Stravinsky’s The Rite of Spring
Why did the ballet work spark a riot in the concert hall? Just how bad was it?
Thur, Oct 20, 7:30 pm, Mahaffey Theater
• Inside Mahler’s Symphony No. 4
A look at the heavenly inspiration behind the work before full performances over the weekend. Select excerpts will be performed at this event.
Fri, Jan 27, 7:30 pm, Straz Center, Morsani
• Inside Sibelius’ Symphony No. 5
How Sibelius built his symphony and what inspired his soaring “swan theme.”
Thur, Feb 16, 7:30 pm, Mahaffey Theater
• Inside Wagner’s Ring Without Words
Dive into this ingenious version of Wagner’s Ring cycle before full performances over the weekend. Select excerpts will be performed at this event.
Thur, May 18, 7:30 pm, Mahaffey Theater
Sing Out Tampa Bay
Our community sing-along concert is back! Bring your favorite singing buddies from school, work or church and join people from all corners of Tampa Bay to unite as one voice with The Florida Orchestra, led by Michael Francis. Sing up for the onstage chorus or simply sing along from the audience.
Wed, May 24, 7 pm, Mahaffey Theater
Admission: Pay what you can at the door, general admission
TFO will perform more than 100 concerts this season in venues throughout Tampa Bay, including a wide range of classical, popular and family-friendly music. Maestro Francis launches the season with TFO’s 55th Celebration benefit concert featuring Itzhak Perlman on Oct. 1 at the Mahaffey Theater. The following weekend, Oct. 7-9, the Hough Family Foundation Masterworks series debuts with Carl Orff’s epic Carmina Burana, kicking off the classical series that ranges from Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 to Rachmaninoff’s Piano Concerto No. 2 and much more. The Raymond James Pops series includes blockbusters such as Harry Potter vs Star Wars, Holiday Pops, and the Beatles’ iconic Abbey Road album. All tickets are on sale now at FloridaOrchestra.org.
About The Florida Orchestra
The Florida Orchestra (TFO) is recognized as Tampa Bay’s leading performing arts institution, the largest professional orchestra in Florida, and one of the most vibrant and innovative orchestras in America. It celebrates its 55th season in 2022-23. Under the leadership of Music Director Michael Francis, TFO performs series of classical, popular, and morning coffee concerts in Tampa, St. Petersburg and Clearwater, as well as free Pops in the Park concerts. The orchestra is dedicated to connecting to the community both in-person and virtually, with family and youth concerts and other educational programs. For tickets and information: FloridaOrchestra.org. The Florida Orchestra is a non-profit 501(c)3 EIN: 59-1223691 CH#1830. To learn more how you can support the power of music in building community, contact: sweymouth@floridaorchestra.org To donate now: FloridaOrchestra.org/donate