‘Fantastic’ Florida Orchestra opens residency in Daytona

Suzanne Hirt, Daytona Beach News-Journal, 5th January 2017

The Florida Orchestra is on a mission to make symphony concerts accessible to everyone, not just people of means.

The reason is simple: “When people come who haven’t been before, they leave transformed,” said Michael Francis, the state orchestra’s music director.

But discounted ticket prices don’t coincide with a reduction in quality, he stressed.

“We have a very, very fine orchestra of musicians. They’re highly trained and highly skilled – a wonderful mix of experienced players and younger players.

“I think when they come people will be really blown away. People will leave there saying, ‘Wow, I had no idea we had an orchestra this fantastic in our own state,'” Francis said of Friday’s concert at Peabody Auditorium.