Company Profile

Company Overview

Founded in late 1995 by its current music director and CEO, Dr. Andrew Kurtz, the Gulf Coast Symphony (GCS) is now the second-largest non-profit performing arts organization in Lee County, Florida. The Gulf Coast Symphony (GCS) endeavors to challenge convention—with its rich tradition of unique and innovative collaborations across multiple genres and disciplines, high-quality dynamic musical performances, active community engagement, and commitment to arts education. Our ultimate goal is to use music and the arts as a vehicle to unite and strengthen our community. The Gulf Coast Symphony is one of the cultural jewels of Southwest Florida.
The GCS comprises the Gulf Coast Symphony, the Gulf Coast Chamber Orchestra, the Gulf Coast Jazz Collective, and the Music & Arts Community Center (MACC) which opened in January 2021. This season over 100 programs will be offered that present the best in classical music, jazz, world music, dance, opera and musical theater. The Symphony will perform 15 shows at the 1850-seat the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, with the bulk of our performances at our more intimate 270 seat theater at the MACC. Additional outreach and run-out concerts take place throughout Southwest Florida.
The MACC serves as a creative hub for our community. We offer MusicWorks! – an El-sistema inspired after-school string program; a youth orchestra program, and a youth jazz program. Our New Horizons Band offers opportunities for adults with limited playing experience. The Symphony’s orchestral fellowship program provides graduates of top music programs an opportunity to grow personally and artistically in a professional environment. The organization has a current annual budget of $2.25 million dollars.