The Florida Orchestra is a performing arts company located in Tampa Bay, Florida. It is one of the leading professional symphony orchestras in Florida, and one of the best regional orchestras in America.. Its present day leader is Music Director Stefan Sanderling.
The orchestra was founded as the Florida Gulf Coast Symphony in 1968, established by representatives of the Tampa Philharmonic and the St. Petersburg Symphony, who merged the two cultural institutions. The founders selected Irwin Hoffmann, who left the Chicago Symphony Orchestra to come to Tampa Bay, as their first music director.
The Florida Orchestra performs regularly in the tri-city area of Tampa, Clearwater, and St. Petersburg. Concert series include the "Masterworks", "Raymond James Pops", "Coffee Concerts", "Pops in the Park" Concerts, along with youth concerts.
In 1988, Jahja Ling became music director. He has also held prestigious positions as resident conductor of The Cleveland Orchestra as well as music director of The Cleveland Orchestra's Blossom Music Festival. Ling is currently the music director of the San Diego Symphony.
The 2001/2002 season marked Jahja Ling's final season as music director, and in May 2002, Stefan Sanderling was appointed the current music director.