ST. PETERSBURG, FL -- The Florida Orchestra will open its chamber orchestra series in September and add two new venues, including the historic St. Mary Our Lady of Grace Church in St. Petersburg, the orchestra announced today. The series – now called TFO Soundwaves Chamber Orchestra Series – provides a unique opportunity to experience TFO’s world-class musicians performing in small ensembles at intimate venues. All will be conducted by TFO Resident Conductor Chelsea Gallo. Tickets are on sale now at FloridaOrchestra.org.

In September, TFO will perform a Soundwaves concert for the first time at the beautiful St. Mary’s Church (515 Fourth St. S), built in 1929 and recognized as an architectural wonder. Expanding into more communities, Soundwaves will debut at the New Tampa Performing Arts Center (8550 Hunters Village Road), and return to Church of the Ascension (701 Orange Ave., Clearwater), the Palladium Theater in St. Petersburg and Tampa Theatre. Music ranges from an arrangement of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1 to Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite to Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale. The series is generously sponsored by Rick and Amy Smith.

Tickets are $30 – all fees included – and on sale now at FloridaOrchestra.org, at 727.892.3337 and at The Florida Orchestra Ticket Center, 244 Second Ave. N (first floor) in St. Petersburg. The concerts are:

The Intimate Mahler: Symphony No. 1
Chelsea Gallo, conductor
All the beauty and intensity you expect from the genius of Gustav Mahler in an intimate arrangement for chamber orchestra. Also: Ayanna Witter-Johnson’s Blush for Chamber Orchestra, Mason Bates’ The Rise of Exotic Computing.
Tues, Sept 24, 7:30 pm, Church of the Ascension, Clearwater
Wed, Sept 25, 7:30 pm, St. Mary’s Church, St. Petersburg
Thur, Sept 26, 7:30 pm, New Tampa Performing Arts Center

Enchanted Stories
Chelsea Gallo, conductor
Music that tells timeless tales: Ravel’s Mother Goose Suite, Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Barber’s Knoxville: Summer of 1915 and more.
Fri, Jan 31, 7:30 pm, Church of the Ascension, Clearwater
Sat, Feb 1, 8 pm, Tampa Theatre
Sun, Feb 2, 2 pm, Palladium Theater – Matinee

The Soldier’s Tale
Chelsea Gallo, conductor
This groundbreaking work by Stravinsky tells the story of a soldier who makes a deal with the devil in disguise.
Thur, Apr 10, 7:30 pm, New Tampa Performing Arts Center
Fri, Apr 11, 7:30 pm, Church of the Ascension, Clearwater
Sat, Apr 12, 2 pm, Palladium Theater – Matinee

The Florida Orchestra’s mission is to Inspire | Educate | Unite to build community through the power of music. TFO will perform more than 100 concerts this season in venues throughout Tampa Bay, including a wide range of classical, popular and family-friendly music. Up first will be How to Train Your Dragon – In Concert, the full film with live orchestra, for two shows on Sept. 14, including a matinee. Celebrating his 10th year with TFO, Music Director Michael Francis launches the Hough Family Foundation Masterworks series with Opening Night! Ravel’s Bolero Oct. 5 & 6 at the Mahaffey Theater and Ruth Eckerd Hall. The Raymond James Pops series opens Sept. 28 with two performances of Country Hits: Songs from Nashville at the Mahaffey Theater – TFO’s first-ever country concerts. Now led by Resident Conductor Chelsea Gallo, the Morning Matinees series kicks off with For the Love of Italy Oct. 9 & 10 at Ruth Eckerd Hall and the Mahaffey Theater.

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About Chelsea Gallo
Resident Conductor Chelsea Gallo has been praised for her ability to “lead the orchestra with grace and fiery command.” She returns in the fall as lead conductor for the Morning Matinees series. She is generously underwritten by Suzette and Monroe Berkman. For more, click here

About Michael Francis
The 2024-25 season celebrates Michael Francis’ 10th year as music director of The Florida Orchestra, with a contract extension through 2030. With bold innovation and creativity, Maestro Francis has raised artistic excellence to new heights, strengthened the audience’s connection to the music and reinvigorated TFO’s community and education programs. Maestro Francis is generously sponsored by the Hough Family. Click here