I promise this will not be one of those missives where someone begins with, “We are a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization…” and you immediately start wondering what else you can be doing.

For those of you who may be new to us, I wanted to take a moment to explain who TFONSA, the Guild, is and why we exist — and I promise to keep it short and maybe therefore far less boring than the usual not-for-profit description you typically see.

So what do we actually do? Great Question – thanks for asking. Think of it as pulling back the curtain a little.

At its heart, TFONSA works to support the musicians, and the TFO organization, we care about so deeply. We help build community around the music, encourage new audiences, and create opportunities that allow the art to keep growing and thriving, and we have done so for over 30 years.

TFONSA is a group of people who believe music should be something you experience up close, not something that only happens on a big stage far away. We believe music connects people, sparks curiosity, and creates moments you remember long after the last note fades.

TFONSA is a group of people who love music — and who believe the best part of music isn’t only sitting in a concert hall listening politely. It’s understanding it, connecting with it, and sometimes getting to peek behind the curtain.

TFONSA is a group of people who support TFO and its mission – “to enrich the life of the Tampa Bay area as it inspires, entertains and educates a wide and diverse audience with the unique experience of live symphonic music, ensuring that future generations will continue to enjoy this legacy that so magnificently celebrates the human spirit.”

TFONSA is a group of people who *fundraise,* as you can see. At all of our events we raise money for TFO – whether it is something like the gala or a small social gathering of 20-30 of us where we add $5 to the price of the event.

TFONSA is a group of people who friendraise, grow audiences. We take people to concerts, we talk to the people next to us and near us. Hopefully that does not come across too creepy. Sometimes it’s introducing people to orchestral music who may have thought it wasn’t for them — and watching them discover that it absolutely is.

TFONSA is a group of people who bring musicians and audiences together
in ways that feel personal. Instead of just attending a performance and heading home, we create opportunities to meet the artists, ask questions, hear the stories behind the music, and really understand what makes it come alive.

TFONSA is a group of people who volunteer and support the education and community impact programs, especially popular is being ambassadors at concerts and supporting the petting zoos. You will hear about other programs later as well.

We like to try new things and make it fun. We host gatherings and conversations, where the goal is simple: make great music more accessible and more human.

For example: We have a musician attend each member meeting. When you hear a musician talk about why they chose a piece, what it means to them, or what happens behind the scenes, the whole experience becomes richer. When you actually meet the people who create the music, something changes. Suddenly it’s not just notes on a page — it’s stories, personalities, passion, and sometimes the admission that a musician practiced a passage about 47 times before it finally worked.

For example: Chelsea is hosting a cruise along the river in Europe this summer.

Our mini fundraisers are different so you want to come as it’s not the same thing year after year. For example we will do a petals and purses fundraiser, a hoe down with line dancing – oh yeah! and a happy hour with Chelsea.

And you know – something wonderful happens when these connection form — people who may have never thought much about orchestral music suddenly feel part of it.

But the real magic of TFONSA is its members. It’s the curiosity, the conversations, the friendships, and the shared moments that happen because everyone here believes music matters.

So if you’ve ever left one of our events thinking, “I didn’t know that about music,” or “I’ve never heard a musician talk like that before,” then we’ve done our job.

Put simply – TFONSA is community of people who love live symphonic music and want to bring others closer to it and we’re very glad that you are, or you are considering, being a part of it.

Sue Ulrey, 2025-2027 President of The Florida Orchestra North Suncoast Associates. Bravura Brunch 2026.