SARASOTA, Fla. — This month marks a significant milestone for the Sarasota Orchestra.
Known as the Florida West Coast Symphony when it debuted in 1949, the orchestra is celebrating 75 years of music. And as the year-long celebrations kick off, its heritage is going beyond this diamond jubilee anniversary.
"When I come to work, the first thing I get to do is open my case and see this incredible violin made in 1695 by Pietro Guarneri in Italy," Daniel Jordan, a Sarasota Orchestra concertmaster, said.
For Jordan, there are many highlights to being a musician that goes beyond the exquisite musical instruments he gets to play.
Jordan has traveled to many cities and countries performing with Florida's oldest continuing orchestra.
"Performing in the Sarasota Orchestra has been incredible, but I've also had the opportunity to travel all over the world because of the violin," Jordan said.
"When you hear a sound coming through this piece of wood, it is vibrating through all the centuries of music making," he continued.
Currently, the Sarasota Orchestra has a roster of 75 musicians performing for an average of 70,000 people annually.
"We use music as a way to create amazing human beings," Roseanne McCabe, the VP of artistic operations, said.
The organization's leaders said the orchestra's performance and education programs help showcase its long-lasting heritage.
"There's at least 10 musicians that have been through the Sarasota music festival that are currently playing in every orchestra in the United States. It does have a profound effect," McCabe said.
That impact includes plans for a future state-of-the-art acoustic music center on Fruitville Road.
"We need a better place in order to perform, a place where people can hear what an orchestra sounds like in an acoustic hall, but it's also for the entire community," McCabe added.
In all, the melodious 75 years have been made possible by the passion of the musicians and the community.
"It's an independent medium that brings people together. It's really an incredible way to express myself and connect with others," Jordan said.
"I can't wait to see what happens in the next five years as we build our future," McCabe said.