Sarasota Orchestra receives major gift from longtime patrons

As the Sarasota Orchestra swings into its active phase to raise funds for its planned Music Center, long-time supporters Jack and Priscilla Schlegel have made a $10 million gift toward the new facility at 5701 Fruitville Road.

Having relocated from Washington, D.C., to Sarasota in 1998, the Schlegels have been active supporters of the local arts community for more than two decades. Combined with $60 million previously given by an anonymous donor and other gifts, the orchestra has raised more than $70 million toward the new facility. 

The Music Center architect, William Rawn Associates, revealed the conceptual drawings for the Music Center in March. The estimated project cost is between $375 million and $425 million, a more firm capital campaign goal to be set following the schematic drawing phase. 

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‘’Our community was introduced to the concept drawings just a bit ago, so we are in the early phase of the campaign,” said Sarasota Orchestra CEO Joe McKenna. “We are active in sharing the vision, the concept, with donors and we expect that that will continue on through the summer and fall.”

On its 32-acre site just west of I-75 off Fruitville Road, the orchestra is planning a three-building complex with an  1,800-seat main performance hall, 700-seat recital hall/flex space and an education center. Although it hasn’t embarked on a formal capital campaign, a framework for the effort is being developed, according to McKenna. The campaign will include some naming opportunities.

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“As we move into schematic design, which we're in right now that will take us through the better part of the summer, as the building gets a little further defined and refined some of those naming opportunities come into greater focus,” McKenna said. 

In addition to William Rawn Associates, the design team includes acoustics and theater planning for Stages Consultants, architecture and engineering firm HKS and OJB Landscape Architecture. The orchestra acquired the property from Walmart Stores East LP for $14 million in April 2023. 

According to McKenna, the orchestra’s fundraising effort is gaining momentum.

“The campaign is active and in its early phase, and it's really exciting to see people get interested in what this facility will bring to the community,” McKenna said, “not only culturally and educationally once it's built, but the economic development and job creation that comes with it.”