After the closing of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra (FPO), Marshall Turkin, former Executive Director of major American orchestras, had the vision to create a new, financially stable musical group to meet the need for a regular classical music series in south Palm Beach County. Working with former FPO Principal Trumpeter Jeffrey Kaye, a past FPO Chairman Martin Coyne and other community leaders and musicians, the infrastructure was developed for a chamber size orchestra.

Marshall began preliminary discussions as to the availability of the musicians who had formerly performed with the Florida Philharmonic. In addition, he spent considerable time meeting with public and private leaders in the area to determine if there was a strong desire to support the formation of a new orchestra. With the community’s encouragement, and assured that many of the musicians were still in the area, Turkin and several community members decided upon a Boca Raton base of operations for the new orchestra.

Since his retirement to Florida, Turkin was producing and performing his Classic Jazz series at the Jewish Community Center in Boca Raton. Two of his biggest fans were Edith and Martin Stein, prominent Boca philanthropists and music lovers. When approached with the idea of forming the Symphonia, the Stein’s generously agreed to make a $50,000 Challenge Grant predicated on the ability to raise an additional $50,000. Within 3 months, the challenge was met and the Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia had the assurance that its inaugural season would be a financial success.

In July 2004, The Boca Raton Symphonia was incorporated and soon thereafter it was granted 501 (c) (3) tax-exempt status. Marshall Turkin hired an internationally renowned group of guest conductors and artists to perform imaginative and appealing programs for the inaugural season. The season’s end was a glorious “Night in Vienna”, a free concert presented in Mizner Park, underwritten by Madelyn Savarick and Henrietta, Countess de Hoernle. An estimated 4,000 people attended, setting an historic record for attendance at a cultural event in Boca Raton.

Since then, The Boca Raton Symphonia continues to expand its role in the community by bringing music to a diverse cross section of our population through concerts, education and outreach. The Symphonia is and will continue to be an integral part of the arts and culture community in South Florida.

Edith and Martin B. Stein