We are proud to shine the spotlight on Steve Pomeranz, who has served as a board member of The Symphonia for seven years – six as President – and is one of our Elite Philanthropists.

How did you get involved with The Symphonia?
I was asked to join the board and then, when the president of the board got sick, they asked me to become president. Since I have a musical background and wanted to do something for the community, I thought it would be a good idea to mix the two.

Why do you give to The Symphonia?
I think it’s vitally important to our culture and to all of us as individuals to be able to experience fine art in a live venue. Museums exist to display great artists and while one can see those paintings in magazines, seeing them in person is a completely different experience. The same is true for music. Listening to recordings is wonderful but feeling the reverberations and the energy from great musicians playing great music is something that we should nurture in our society. It makes us all better.

What is your background in music?
Though none of my parents were musicians, they listened to music continually and it was always playing in the house day after day. At age 12, I picked up the guitar and taught myself to play and, by age 18, I was playing pop music professionally. I was never really exposed to classical music until high school, when I fell in love with Tchaikovsky‘s Violin Concerto.

In my late 20s, I put the guitar aside and focused on a career in the investment advisory industry. However, ten years ago, I formed a few bands and now my band, The Steve Pomeranz Band, plays regularly in South Florida. Music is now a bigger part of my life than it has ever been, as I continue to study and practice every day.

What does The Symphonia mean to the community?
The Symphonia does so many things to enrich our community. It creates programs for children to learn to play and to experience the beauty of fine music. It educates the public through its “pre-concert conversations.” Its Connoisseur Concert Series presents the music we love to hear by the great geniuses of the past, but also brings us into the twenty-first-century at least once per concert, to help us understand the music that more reflects the world around us.  

What would you share with others about The Symphonia?
These days, it is rare to find music beautifully presented by great musicians, great conductors and a great artistic director who knows what we like to hear, but also challenges us to think a little differently. The Symphonia is one of those few institutions for which one person can make a big difference. One person can help shape a legacy of presenting fine music to the community. Incredibly, all of this is available right here in our own backyard.