$10 million gift to local orchestra from Jack and Priscilla Schlegel in the footsteps of an earlier $50 million donation

The Sarasota Orchestra has received a transformational $10 million donation from longtime patrons Jack and Priscilla Schlegel, marking a major step forward in the realization of its planned Music Center on Fruitville Road. The gift is the largest publicized contribution to the project since an anonymous donor gave a historic $50 million earlier this year—the largest single donation in the orchestra’s 75-year history.

The Schlegels, who moved to Sarasota from Washington, D.C. in 1998, have been active stewards of the Suncoast’s cultural and civic life for more than two decades. Jack Schlegel, a nationally known healthcare consultant, and his wife Priscilla have supported numerous Sarasota institutions, including the Ringling College of Art and Design and Asolo Repertory Theatre. Their latest gift underscores the couple’s deep belief in the role of the arts as a cornerstone of community and regional identity.

“Over the past 25 years, we have witnessed Sarasota Orchestra transform into a fully professional orchestra that is rapidly becoming one of the best regional orchestras in the country,” the Schlegels said in a joint statement. “The last two Music Director appointments and the purchase of the Music Center site have inspired us to be ‘all in’ with our support. We believe these milestones will place both Sarasota and the Orchestra, with its new concert hall, on the map as a premier cultural destination.”

The new Music Center will feature Sarasota’s first concert hall specifically designed for acoustic music. The 32-acre campus is being developed in partnership with an acclaimed international design and planning team, including Stages Consultants (acoustics and theater planning), Boston-based William Rawn Associates (noted for their celebrated concert hall at Tanglewood), Dallas-based HKS (architecture and engineering), and OJB Landscape Architecture.

Joseph McKenna, president and CEO of Sarasota Orchestra, praised the Schlegels’ leadership: “We couldn’t be more grateful for their continued support of our orchestra. Their vision and generosity reflect the community’s growing recognition that the arts are essential to Sarasota’s future—economically, culturally, and socially.”

The Orchestra’s campaign to fund the Music Center aims to raise over $100 million. Once completed, the facility is expected to host not only performances by the Orchestra, but also visiting ensembles, educational programming, and community events, reinforcing Sarasota’s emergence as a nationally recognized hub for the performing arts.

This latest gift reinforces the momentum behind the Orchestra’s vision—a shared dream now backed by nearly $70 million in philanthropic support. As the city prepares to break ground on what many believe will become a regional landmark, the Schlegels’ contribution stands as a powerful symbol of what private generosity can help build for the public good.