With new grants, Florida Orchestra is increasing its presence around the state

Andrew Meacham,Tampa Bay Times, 5th January 2017

The Florida Orchestra will take on an expanded presence throughout Florida, thanks to new funding that will send musicians to cities around the state.

Orchestra leaders stood before the St. Petersburg City Council Thursday and spoke of an ambitious state residency program funded by more than $700,000 in grant money from the state of Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture.

The program starts Friday with a Masterworks concert in Daytona Beach. Other concerts through March take the orchestra to schools and community orchestras in Volusia, Highlands and Alachua counties. Possible bookings next year include Panama City, Fort Pierce and Citrus County, orchestra president and CEO Michael Pastreich told a pleased council.

The orchestra got an additional boost via renovation grants, $1 million from the state and another $800,000 from the city of St. Petersburg, to rehab the Mahaffey Theater’s acoustic shell. Work on the shell, which helps project sound into the hall, will begin in May.

Pastreich also announced a new hire by the orchestra. Violinist Kristin Baird will travel among Pinellas County schools, working with music directors and teachers. Among other things, he said, Baird will teach violin instruction to band leaders who might not be experienced with the instrument.