By Kathy L. Collins
The Tampa Music Society’s (TMS) next concert on Friday, April 25 will benefit the Children’s Cancer Center. The concert will take place at Spoto High School’s Spoto Theatre located at 8538 Eagle Palm Dr. in Riverview beginning at 7 p.m. General admission tickets are just $15 and students with ID can get tickets for $10.
Nelson Rodriguez-Parada, Music Director and President of TMS said, “The TMS Orchestra is a 50-piece full symphony orchestra made up of volunteers from all over central Florida. This concert has a variety of music that will be performed. We have everything from classical, jazz and pop. A few selections include Hoist’s Jupiter, Duke Ellington, Pines of Rome, Take Five and Pirates of the Caribbean.” Rodriquez-Parada added, “We’re also working on teaching some of the kids Count on Me by Bruno Mars on the guitar to perform and be accompanied by the orchestra at the concert.”
The Children’s Cancer Center is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing children who have cancer or chronic blood disorders and their families with educational, emotional and financial assistance necessary to cope with life-threatening illnesses. Rodriguez-Parada explained that the Children’s Cancer Center was chosen because, “It has been doing great things for families of children with life-threatening illnesses since 1974.”
TMS will strive to have two benefit concerts each year. The first one, benefitting The Manatee Hospital at Tampa’s Lowry Park Zoo, was a great success. Rodriguez-Parada said, “We look for organizations that directly benefit and help the Tampa community and culture.”
Rodriguez-Parada explained, “At the end of the day, these concerts are meant to not only raise money for good causes in Tampa, but to also bring our community a little closer together. It gives the musicians an opportunity to do something they love with an even greater purpose.” Rodriguez-Parada added, “We have many musicians in Tampa who are music professionals and they want to give back to the community for supporting them.”
For more information on TMS and to inquire about tickets, please visit www.tampamusicsociety.com or call 351-0081. For more information on the Children’s Cancer Center, visit www.childrenscancercenter.org.
