Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra pulls on talent from the local universities' music faculty, as well as regional musicians of the highest calibur. This is not a simple community orchestra, but a world-class orchestra that is dedicated to bringing the beauty of classical music to the Tallahassee community. TSO also is very involved in educating our youth about the value of arts and music, and has a youth orchestra (TSYO) for budding musicians. For string musicians, this is one of the few opportunities to hone your craft and interact with peers. Personally, I was in the wind section of TSYO for years and found it a valuable part of my music education, and surprisingly one of the more fun activities I was involved in. TSO and TSYO offer a variety of events for different kinds of listeners. The more accessible event of the year is Pops in the Garden at Maclay State Park, which is fun for the whole family. If you're a discerning listener of classical music, go to one of their formal seasonal concerts, where you'll get a lecture session about the piece to be preformed: history, biography of the composer, and odd performance facts relating to the piece. The lecture is followed by the TSO's performance. The TSO often hosts guest conductors and musicians from around the world, offering Tallahassee a taste of the larger, global music community. All in all, the TSO has a lot to offer Tallahasseeans...although tickets can be expensive, the experience is worth it.
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