MAURSITC
A HIDDEN JEWEL
Tampa Bay Symphony
The St. Petersburg Community Symphony that was founded
in 1975 became the Tampa Bay Community Symphony in
1984 as it started performing outside St. Petersburg. Within
two years, that group folded. However, it was quickly
re-organized as the Tampa Bay Symphony and recruited Dr. Jack
Heller, then chair of the music department at the University of
South Florida, to be the music director and conductor of the
symphony.
Dr. Heller continued in those positions for 25 years; Halina
Bobrow, who had been a member of the Cleveland Orchestra,
was concert mistress for 24 years; and several musicians who
began in 1986 are still performing with the orchestra today.
By 1988, the symphony was performing in Tampa at the Straz
Center for the Performing Arts. By 1993, the group was performing
at Ruth Eckerd Hall in Clearwater and the Mahaffey Theater in
St. Petersburg, in addition to concerts in Clearwater’s Coachman
Park and on Treasure Island Beach.
Thirty-one years ago, the organization began its Young Artist
Competition as part of an effort to encourage and educate youths.
Last year, the symphony implemented a national competition
for composers, which has already become international in scope
with entries from 16 foreign countries.
126 TAMPA BAY MAGAZINE | MAY/JUNE 2018
Perhaps the addition of symphonic chats prior to each concert
by the symphony’s music director, the renowned Maestro Mark
Sforzini, has made the largest impact on audiences. While enjoying
wine and hors d’oeuvres, the audience hears excerpts from the
concert and also is permitted to ask questions.
Susan Rhein, the new president of the Tampa Bay Symphony,
says that pursuing the organization’s mission to promote interest
in classical music and to educate youth is not as challenging
as getting support from donors and the public through ticket
purchases. Even though all the musicians are volunteers, the
orchestra has the sound of a professional organization, where
everyone is paid for performing. This is their labor of love, and
our community is the benefactor of the performers’ generosity
and love of music. 9
EDITOR’S NOTE: The Tampa Bay Symphony’s season begins in
November with pianist Grigorios Zamparas as soloist for Tchaikovsky’s
Piano Concerto No. 1. February concerts feature Jeffrey Smick on violin
and April and May concerts showcase the Young Artist Competition
winner. For tickets or other information, contact (727) 827-8087 or
visit tampabaysymphony.com.
Maestro Mark Sforzini
works with this volunteer
Tampa Bay Symphony
to reach a professional
quality sound.
JAMES LENNON