The Sarasota Orchestra has announced a $60 million gift from an anonymous donor to plan and construct a new music center.

The gift—which the Sarasota Herald Tribune described as “one of the largest financial gifts ever to an American orchestra”—will support the construction of a new music center which will include a 1,700-seat concert hall and a roughly 700-seat recital hall, as well as rehearsal rooms, offices, and space for the organization’s educational programs. The funds include the donor’s initial $10 million commitment to help the orchestra secure the land for the center.

The capital project is estimated to cost between $375 million and $425 million. Expected to open for the 2029-30 season, the music center will add capacity for the orchestra and other regional performing arts organizations that are challenged to secure performance and rehearsal space. In addition, the center will scale the orchestra’s impact on education, providing expanded space and opportunities for the growth of youth orchestra programs.

“I am thrilled to envision the incredible talent that will grace our community, both as members of the orchestra and as guest artists on that stage,” the donor wrote in a statement. “When [music director] Giancarlo Guerrero receives calls from his acclaimed colleagues from around the world about where to perform top musical pieces, I want the answer to be Sarasota. I want artists to discover an iconic performance space and a home here.”

(Photo credit: Sarasota Orchestra)