The Sarasota Orchestra has received a transformative $60 million anonymous donation for its new music center construction project. The donor, who has declined naming rights, has been a long-time supporter of the orchestra's programs and performances.

The funds will primarily support development of the orchestra's recently acquired 31-acre site on Fruitville Road, west of I-75. The planned facility includes:

• 1,700-seat concert hall
• 700-seat recital hall
• Rehearsal spaces
• Administrative offices
• Education program facilities

The donation came in two phases: an initial $10 million to secure the land debt-free, followed by an additional $50 million commitment. Joseph McKenna, the orchestra's President & CEO, notes this represents the largest gift of its kind in Sarasota's history.

This contribution ranks as the 6th largest donation to North American orchestras in the past 25 years, according to CCS Fundraising. Notable larger gifts include:

• $120 million to San Diego Symphony (2002)
• $100 million to Lincoln Center/NY Philharmonic (2015)
• $85 million to Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra (2009)

The new music center's total projected cost ranges between $375-425 million, with initial concept designs expected to be revealed in late March. Under the leadership of new music director Giancarlo Guerrero, the facility aims to attract world-class performers and advance Sarasota's position as a premier arts destination.

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