200 Years of Tallahassee

Historically, the arts have been honored in cities across the world by highlighting local creations — from hometown bands to celebrated city-center sculptures, and from community murals to photographers’ documentation of what once was and now is.

As Tallahassee approaches its bicentennial in 2024, the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra reflects on the area’s artistic history, looking to honor the momentous occasion with two unique endeavors: a visual concerto titled “200 Years of Tallahassee — A Symphonic Celebration of our City” and a book titled T is for Tallahassee.

“200 Years of Tallahassee” will kick off the city’s bicentennial celebrations on Jan. 20–21, 2024, with performances at Ruby Diamond Concert Hall. Thousands of community-submitted photographs, pictured on a 440-square-foot screen situated above the orchestra, will journey the audience through 200 years of local history accompanied by the orchestra’s performance of a work titled “Black, Brown and Beige” by the famed Duke Ellington.

Beginning July 18, 2023, current and past Tallahassee residents are encouraged to submit photos that showcase the city — including captured historical moments, community events, city celebrations, favorite places, acts of neighborly kindness, treasured landmarks, portraiture and other historically relevant photos.

“One of the most special aspects of this project is being able to view Tallahassee through Tallahassee’s own eyes,” said Amanda Stringer, CEO of Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra.

Once photos are selected, Nicholas Bardonnay, creative director and CEO of California-based Westwater Arts, will create the 13-minute video compilation. Bardonnay has worked on similar projects for over 120 orchestras across the world and will be in attendance at the January performance. The project is sponsored by Capital City Bank.

The book T is for Tallahassee is an endeavor that Stringer has long sought to make possible, and the bicentennial celebration provided the impetus to pursue it.

“This book will serve as a celebration of music and art in our community, as every letter of the alphabet is tied to a piece of Tallahassee’s music history,” Stringer said.

Twenty-six different local artists will contribute artwork that reflects the theme of each letter, such as “G” for gospel. Stringer herself has sponsored and purchased the original artwork for “G,” created by mixed media artist Mary Proctor, and said several of the original pieces will be available for sale following the book’s launch.

Stringer is working alongside Amanda Thompson of AKT Artful, a firm that manages and produces arts-related content, to curate the art and content for the book. Based on historical and current musical references, the two have written the copy and have selected former Leon County Commissioner and Editor for the Tallahassee Democrat, Mary Ann Lindley, as the book’s primary editor.

Pediment Publishing will produce 4,000 copies of the book which will be completed in early November of 2023. The book can be purchased through the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, local bookstores and speciality shops throughout Tallahassee. All proceeds will benefit the Symphony’s children’s programming and educational activity.

“We are immensely proud,” Stringer said. “The Symphony is honored to be a meaningful part of our city’s bicentennial celebration by contributing two pieces of artwork that will live on in Tallahassee history forever.”

Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra

515 E. Park Ave., Tallahassee 
(850) 224-0461  |  tallahasseesymphony.org