The Florida West Coast Symphony, now known as the Sarasota Orchestra, is a professional orchestra based in Sarasota, Florida. Founded in 1949, it is the oldest continuing orchestra in Florida. The organization began as a merger of the Sarasota Philharmonic and the Tampa Bay Symphony, initially performing as an amateur community ensemble before transitioning to professional status. The orchestra performs a diverse repertoire of classical masterworks, pops, chamber music, and contemporary compositions throughout its regular season. Its primary performance venue is the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, though it also presents concerts at other locations throughout Sarasota and Manatee counties. The organization maintains a strong educational component through its Youth Orchestra Program, established in 1959, which provides musical training and performance opportunities for young musicians. The symphony also operates the Sarasota Music Festival, an intensive three-week program for pre-professional musicians. Over the years, the orchestra has been led by several notable music directors, including Paul Wolfe (1961-1996) and Leif Bjaland (1997-2012). The organization changed its name to Sarasota Orchestra in 2008 to better reflect its geographic identity and community connection. The orchestra continues to serve as a cultural cornerstone of Florida’s Gulf Coast region.