Tallahassee may be a rather small city in terms of size, but the array of music offerings available here rivals that of many other, much larger cities. Here are some of the many organizations available to you and your family:

The Florida State University College of Music – One of the largest, most-respected music institutions in the nation, enrolling over 1,000 students in baccalaureate through doctorate programs in virtually every field of music. It offers more than 500 faculty and student solo, chamber music, choral, orchestral, band, jazz, world music, early music, and guest artist concerts each year, many of which are free. Concerts are held on the FSU campus in Ruby Diamond Concert Hall, Opperman Music Hall, Dohnanyi Recital Hall, Lindsay Recital Hall, and others. Also, the college offers three yearly operas.

The FAMU Department of Music – “The mission of the Florida A&M University Department of Music is to provide the highest quality music at the undergraduate level for music majors embarking on careers as teachers, scholars, performers or composers. It is also the mission of the department to teach non-majors and members of the community about music as a part of human culture and experience.”

The Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra – Performs six or more concerts every season, including the very popular and family-friendly “Pops in Southwood” concert, which features the orchestra performing in a park setting.

Opening Nights – Opening Nights is a performing-arts festival that takes place each February and spotlights Florida State University’s commitment to the arts — music, theatre, dance, visual art, film, and literature.

Big Bend Community Orchestra – The Big Bend Community Orchestra (BBCO) is dedicated to the enhanced appreciation and understanding of orchestral music by providing an opportunity for musicians to play and learn together, encouraging school-aged children to become interested in music through educational programs and performing instrumental music for the public.

The Artist Series – The Artist Series is a not-for-profit organization that presents 4-6 concerts a year of high class, internationally renowned musicians and ensembles.

The Tallahassee Bach Parley – The Parley’s purposes are to present vital, engaging, and informative performances of primarily Baroque music, with particular sensitivity to style and other traditions, using period instruments as much as possible.

The Thomasville Entertainment Foundation – Enjoy concerts by some of the most celebrated artists of our time in the intimacy of an acoustically excellent 500-seat hall.

The Tallahassee Youth Orchestras – The Tallahassee Youth Orchestras (TYO), led by Dr. Alexander Jiménez, is the premier orchestral training program of Florida’s Big Bend area. The TYO believes that one of the best ways to ensure that classical music is a thriving part of our community is to win over the hearts and minds of young people.

The Tallahassee Community Chorus – The Tallahassee Community Chorus began in 1988 as a collaborative effort between the Florida State School of Music and 37 community singers. The group has grown to more than 200 singers and has become one of the leading non-auditioned community choruses in the country.

The Boys’ Choir of Tallahassee – The Boys’ Choir of Tallahassee is a community-based outreach program for males, ages eight to eighteen, enrolled in schools throughout the Tallahassee area. Its mission is to foster academic excellence, build character and self-esteem, develop interpersonal skills, and help young men realize their fullest potential while acquiring life skills.