The Musicale
809 W. Horatio Street
Tampa
This Mediterranean Revival style building was designed by Frank Dunham, a Tampa architect, who also designed several local schools, Ybor City commercial buildings and Davis Island residences. The building was the first clubhouse built by women to foster civic improvement and cultural life in the City of Tampa. The Friday Morning Musicale, which built the building, was founded in October, 1902, to sponsor vocal performances and bring leading performers to Tampa.
In 1917, the club founded the Junior Friday Morning Musicale with the stated objective, “to create a love for the study and the performance of the best in music and related arts.”
For the past seventy years, the Musicale building has been the site of piano, string and local recitals and competitions staged by most of the private music teachers in Tampa. Many of the city’s artistic and cultural groups, including the Tampa Symphony (now the Florida Orchestra), were begun in the building. It is used by Gorrie Elementary and Hyde Park Day School students for programs and assemblies.
The Friday Morning Musicale’s efforts resulted in the introduction of music study in the Hillsborough County School System.Through its fund-raising activities, the club awards music scholarships to talented students. The club also sponsors a candidate – often the winning candidate – in the annual statewide “Jeannie” competition for voice students. The Musicale Building is the city’s only private theatre building on the west side of the Hillsborough River. Thousands of local children who have taken piano, violin, dance, or voice lessons in the area have been introduced to performing on the stage of this building.
The Champagne Concert Series is presented in the Friday Morning Musicale Building, a delightfully classical venue, on Sundays at four o’clock in the afternoon. Complimentary champagne and snacks are offered at intermission. Dress is informal.
The Chamber Orchestra of Florida is a non-profit, IRS designated 501 (c) (3) entity.
Randy Raaen, CPA, Treasurer
P.O. Box 892
Tampa, FL 33601
Phone: (813) 273-0359
