Cindy and Michael Francis photography by win wolloff Michael Francis is in his second season as music director for The Florida Orchestra. He recently moved to the Tampa Bay area from the United Kingdom, where he was born. He is also the music director for the Mainly Mozart Festival in San Diego. He began as a tenured double bass player of the London Symphony Orchestra (LSO), but he knew that conducting was his true passion when he stepped in to replace an ailing LSO conductor while on tour. Since then, he has conducted many orchestras around the world, including the Cleveland Orchestra, New York and Royal Philharmonics, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, Stuttgart Radio and NHK (Tokyo) Symphonies. Cindy Francis (née Rodriguez) grew up in Lutz, Florida. She graduated from Gaither High School and received her undergraduate and MBA from Harvard University. Her professional career began in college when she became president of Harvard Student Agencies, which had an annual revenue of $5 million and more than 600 student employees. After graduating, she went to work for American Express in New York City, a private investment firm in Dubai and a nonprofit charity in London. Cindy currently works with her husband Michael as his business manager. Michael and Cindy met in 2012 at a charity event in London. After he proposed on Belleair Beach in Florida, they married in the UK and lived there until Michael joined The Florida Orchestra. They have a two-year-old daughter, Annabella. What provides you with pleasure? Michael: Spending time with family and helping people listen more deeply to great music. Cindy: Seeing Annabella grow and develop each day. How do you relax? Michael: Reading, walking, cooking and listening to cricket on the radio. Cindy: Spending the day at the beach. Who is your role model? Michael: My mother, godfather and the late Sir Colin Davis. Cindy: My parents. What is your favorite word? Michael: Listening. I have found that it is better to understand than to be understood. Cindy: Perseverance. I have great admiration for people who don’t give up despite difficult odds. 154 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2016 What is the best advice you have ever been given? Michael: Take your work seriously, but not yourself. Cindy: Live life to the fullest. Why do you do what you do? Michael: The love of music and the joy of bringing people together. Cindy: I love working with Michael every day while at the same time staying at home to raise Annabella. What don’t people know about you? Michael: I’m still a fast(ish) bowler for an amateur cricket team in England. Cindy: My parents are from Ecuador and Puerto Rico. What are your favorite words of wisdom? Michael: “Never give up, never give up, never give up!” (Winston Churchill) Cindy: “Blame no one. Expect nothing. Do something.” What do you consider to be your greatest achievement? Michael: Meeting Cindy and raising our beautiful daughter, Annabella. Cindy: Marrying Michael and being a mother to Annabella. What is your motto? Michael and Cindy: Love God first and serve others to the best of our abilities. What would you like to be able to do that you can’t do? Michael: Play Beethoven’s Piano Sonatas. (I’m not a pianist). Cindy: Understand and speak more languages. What would you like to do that you have never done? Michael: Play golf at the old course, St. Andrews. Cindy: Take a food tour of Italy. How would you describe yourself? Michael: British. Cindy: Adventurous. What is your fondest memory? Michael: “I do.” Cindy: I have too many! Our wedding day, Annabella’s birth, seeing her take her first steps…
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