This season the Suncoast Symphony Orchestra celebrates its 20th anniversary. The history of the Suncoast Symphony Orchestra really begins with the Clearwater Symphony Orchestra. The Clearwater Symphony Orchestra was founded in 1984 by a small group of musicians and educators wishing to provide an outlet for the performance of symphonic music in the community. The first program was presented in November of 1984 at the Royalty Theater in downtown Clearwater. Since then, the orchestra has performed in many locations in the Dunedin-Largo-Clearwater area, including Ruth Eckerd Hall and the St. Petersburg Palladium.

Near the end of the 1993-1994 season, the orchestra changed its name to the Suncoast Symphony Orchestra to better reach the greater Bay Area community."