In August, The St. Joe Community Foundation renewed its commitment as the Panama City Symphony’s Grand Marquee Season Sponsor for the 2026-27 season. Their $50,000 grant will support the Symphony’s Music Outreach and Education Programs during the 31st season, Horizons: A Season of Discovery.
This substantial grant from the St. Joe Community Foundation comes at a pivotal growth period for our organization. Because our board functions actively as a working board — donating the equivalent labor of five full-time team members every week — we know firsthand how much every resource matters. This grant directly strengthens our capacity to execute live orchestral concerts along with music education and outreach, serving Northwest Florida.
About The Symphony’s Music Education Programs
The Symphony’s “Make Music Magic” program, designed for the youngest K to 2 audiences, helps children develop an awareness and appreciation for music through interactive singing, exercises that use motor skills, and imaginative activities. In the “Discovering Music” program, designed for grades 3 to 5, musicians engage young minds by demonstrating their instruments’ unique qualities and showing how they are used to create a full musical performance through active listening, individual instrument demonstrations, and interactive learning. The Symphony’s Mentoring Program offers advanced high school musicians (grades 9 to 12) a rigorous, pre-college training experience. Mentees rehearse and perform alongside Symphony professionals, study privately with Symphony musicians, and perform in a student recital.
Panama City Symphony’s “Sing with the Symphony” program for adult and children’s choruses debuted last season at Holiday by the Bay, the Symphony’s annual Christmas concert, and was such a magical success it returns this season for two performances. In December, the adult and children’s choruses will be featured at the majestic A Grand Symphony Christmas (formerly Holiday by the Bay). In April, the adult chorus vocal ensembles return for the season finale, Beethoven’s crowning masterpiece, Symphony No. 9.
The Panama City Symphony String Academy is an after-school ensemble for students in grades 4 to 8 (ages 9 to 15) interested in learning violin, viola, cello, or double bass. The program provides structured, high-quality musical education in a welcoming and supportive environment. Through regular rehearsals, students develop strong technical skills, learn effective rehearsal habits, and experience the teamwork needed to perform confidently as an ensemble.
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