Welcome

Welcome to the Gulf Coast Symphony – one of the most innovative and dynamic orchestras in the United States! The Gulf Coast Symphony is a unique organization, not only because it provides a wide variety of quality orchestral concerts for audiences of all ages, as well as dozens of outreach and educational programs, but because of the tremendous value and musical growth our orchestra members gain from these varied experiences.

Membership in the Gulf Coast Symphony is based on a successful audition. You will then be placed on the approved orchestra roster. Re-auditions may be required at the discretion of the Music Director. String section seating will be determined by the conductor and players will rotate throughout the year. Brass and wind sectional needs and assignments will also be determined on a piece by piece and concert by concert basis. Any doubling of parts will occur at the sole discretion of the Music Director.

Season Information

This season we are performing shows at both the Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall and the Gulf Coast Symphony’s Music & Arts Community Center (MACC). There will be two outdoor pops concerts as part of ArtFest in downtown Fort Myers & Taste of the Cape in Cape Coral. There are also run-outs performances to Sanibel & Glades County. Our season includes classical, pops. ballet, and musical theater.

Additionally, the Gulf Coast Symphony will be sponsoring community engagement activities throughout Lee County year round. We hope you will volunteer to be a part of helping us achieve our goal of the widest possible civic footprint and being deeply invested in our community!

Membership Fee (fully tax-deductible)

In order to maintain its quality performances and engage renowned soloists for our concerts, the musicians of the Gulf Coast Symphony help contribute financially to the organization’s continuing growth. We hope that the members of the orchestra can match their artistic energy with financial contributions that are personally meaningful. At minimum, each musician of Gulf Coast Symphony is responsible for the following:

$250 tax-deductible yearly membership fee due by September 30.
A willingness to help raise additional monies and support for Gulf Coast Symphony, which can be accomplished either through donations, promoting sponsorship opportunities, or ticket sales.

Ticket Policy

The $250 membership fee entitles you to one (1) free ticket for each Pops and Classical concert series performance you are playing, except when we have a producing partner. There are no comps for Holiday, Nutcracker or Family concerts, but you may purchase reduced priced tickets for these shows.

Gulf Coast Symphony musicians will receive limited discounted tickets for all of our shows (except family concerts), as well as discounts to some of our paid events. Orchestra members receive the best available seats.
Gulf Coast Symphony members receive a discount to all shows at the MACC (chamber music, musicals etc). The discount is automatically added when you purchase tickets online or call our box office.

Complimentary/reduced price ticket request will be due by TUESDAY prior to each concert. We encourage you to submit these requests at least two weeks prior to a concert. No late requests will be accepted this year.

Rehearsal Etiquette & Attendance Policies

Attend all rehearsals with the music properly prepared. The technical and musical demands of our orchestra repertoire require the highest professionalism. This means that each musician must know the music well enough so that rehearsals are not merely “practice sessions,” but rather times when members can leave sessions feeling a sense of artistic growth and enhancement.

Arrive to rehearsal with enough time to properly warm up on your instrument and be ready to play by the posted start time. This means arriving no later than 6:45pm, warming up, and being in your seat ready to begin rehearsal promptly at 7:00pm.

Rehearsal breaks will last no longer than 15 minutes. Please be back in your seat ready to play when break is over. If you must socialize or conduct other business, please do so before or after rehearsal.
Respect your fellow musicians and your conductor.
Talking is not permitted during rehearsal.

All cell phones should be turned off or muted during rehearsal unless your job requires you to be immediately accessible.

As a general rule, musicians may not miss more than one rehearsal per concert set without the Music Director’s consent. Whenever feasible, these excused absences should be approved in advance. If you haven’t previously indicated your need to miss a rehearsal on the season commitment form, use the rehearsal release form. Also, if you need to miss a particular concert, let the Music Director know as early as possible so rotations can be established ahead of time.
Dress rehearsals are mandatory for all musicians.

Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall is a 100% tobacco-free location. Failure to observe this restriction may have serious repercussions for the Gulf Coast Symphony.

Musicians will be expected to behave in a professional manner at all time. This means in rehearsal, at a concert site, or, in any situation where they are representing the Gulf Coast Symphony. Failure to do so may result in temporary or permanent dismissal from the organization.

Musicians will be issued a GCS ID. You must have it with you for access to BBMANN and other GCS facilities. Please note, only performing musicians are permitted backstage.

Music Procedures

Music will be available for pickup at the GCS Offices (6314 Corporate Court Suite 100) during normal business hours prior to each concert. Pops music will be available two weeks prior to the first rehearsal. For classical repertoire, unless it is a rental piece, music is available at least 3 weeks prior to the concert.
Please follow librarian sign out procedures for music folders. You are responsible for your folder.
If you sign out music for another musician, you are both responsible for that folder’s return.

Our music library is not located at our rehearsal venue. Do not forget your music, as we will not have extra copies available. We are not able to make copies on demand.

All music MUST be returned the day of a concert. Leave your folder on your stand or place it in the music folder bin.

You will be billed for the replacement costs of any piece of music that is lost. Some of the music we play is irreplaceable or requires purchase of the entire set, which is costly. Please handle your music accordingly.

In general, please only use pencil on music. You may use highlighters if you are certain that it is a GCS library copy, and not an original or rental set.

Always bring ALL of your music to rehearsal. This is especially important when we are rehearsing for a more than one concert at the same time!

Our head librarian is Tom Santin. He is a volunteer, so please be respectful of his time. He is happy to make additional copies or mail music to you if you are out of town, but you must first email him at
librarian@gulfcoastsymphony.org, or call him (239) 691-5798. There will also be an online form you can use to request music.

Dress Code for Concerts

Symphonic Pops, Summer Concerts, & Holiday Concerts

Men – White dinner jacket, white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, black tuxedo pants, black dress shoes, black socks.

Women – Long-sleeved white blouse, black floor-length skirt or slacks, black closed-toe shoes, black stockings.

Classical Concerts & Nutcracker & Opera

Men – Black tuxedo jacket, white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, black tuxedo pants, black dress shoes, black socks.
Women – Long-sleeved black blouse, black floor-length skirt or slacks, black closed-toe shoes, black stockings.

Outdoor Concerts (ArtFest)

Men – White dress shirt, black bow tie, black dress pants, black dress shoes, black socks. (NO JACKET)
Women – White blouse, black floor-length skirt or slacks, black closed-toe shoes, black stockings.

Halloween Family Concert & Specialty Concerts

All – WEAR A COSTUME!! (Best orchestra costume wins a prize!)

OUTREACH EVENTS with performance element

Men – Suit, tie, black dress shoes, black socks.
Women – Sunday dress, black closed-toe shoes.

Community Outreach

All Gulf Coast Symphony orchestra members are expected to participate in at least one community outreach event per season in addition to pre-show lobby activities. These events may include Lee County Library Symphony Storytimes, Musical Discovery Zones, small ensemble performances, etc. Please note, orchestra members who volunteer to participate in two or more events not tied to a concert will earn extra comp tickets to any of our shows.

This upcoming season promises to be full of challenges and full of promise as the Gulf Coast Symphony
continues to grow as one of Southwest Florida’s leading artistic institutions. Your presence is valuable to the orchestra and the gifts you contribute to the the ensemble are much appreciated.

Let’s make some wonderful music this season!

Andrew & the Gulf Coast Symphony Board of Directors