The story of the Jacksonville Symphony is not just one of music and performances, but a story of families, legacy, and the lasting power of introducing young people to the arts. There are few families that illustrate this better than the Bryans. In a recent conversation with longtime supporter and former board chair, Jacob F. Bryan IV (J.F. IV), the depth of his family’s connection to the Symphony revealed just how profoundly the organization has been and continues to be shaped by multiple generations.
J.F.’s relationship with the Symphony began long before he joined the board in 1983. His uncle Edward Bryan, who later became the Jacksonville University Chorus Director and served as organist and choir director, was the first family member to serve on the board of the Symphony Orchestra in 1935 (precursor to the Jacksonville Symphony) after World War I. A gifted musician, he played the organ, conducted choirs and filled the family home with the recordings of major operas and symphonies on the Victrola. His young nephew J.F. absorbed it all, though he didn’t realize at the time what a gift it was. “It was one of those gifts you didn’t know you were given,” he reflects as it went into shape his music passion for decades to come.
He had three musically-inclined uncles who performed with the pre-war Symphony: Uncle Howard played the bass fiddle, Uncle Burton played the cello—a role now commemorated by Principal Cellist Alexei Romanenko’s endowed chair and Uncle Ed, the organ. While not a musician himself, his Uncle Sheldon was a painter and sculptor in New York City whom J.F. often visited. Together they attended operas and concerts, many of which he was already familiar with from Uncle Ed’s influence, which only deepened his connection to the world of music. A side note: after the old Metropolitan Opera house was torn down, J.F.’s father acquired one of its box fronts from the Golden Horseshoe and repurposed it as a bar—a treasured relic of operatic history. Following Uncle Ed’s passing, J.F. inherited a remarkable collection of autographs from legendary opera singers, a tangible reminder of the family’s devotion to the art form.
Leadership, like love of the arts, was also a Bryan tradition. Across decades, members of the family served on the Symphony’s Board of Director, through multiple terms and returns, often in leadership roles. J.F.’s father, Jacob F. Bryan III, helped steer the organization as chairman during a season with no concerts, and J.F. himself served in many capacities, including President in 1988. His eagerness to talk about and promote the Symphony to newcomers in Jacksonville eventually led to his appointment as head of the Development Committee, where he helped foster a new community of patrons the year before he became President-elect. He fondly recalls interviewing and hiring potential leaders such as Dave Pearson, who later became a successful CEO as well as how three business leaders he once invited to lunch all ended up serving as chairmen.
J.F.’s tenure as chairman brought one of his most memorable achievements: Luciano Pavarotti performed in person with our symphony, drawing 10,000 people to an unforgettable performance at the coliseum. That same 1988/89 Season, the orchestra performed all nine Beethoven symphonies and welcomed award-winning vocalists Kiri Te Kanawa and Frederica “Flicka” von Stade and violinist Itzhak Perlman.
J.F. continued his board service from 1992 onward and was deeply involved in leadership decisions including chairing the search committee that brought Fabio Machetti to our symphony. Notably, J.F. remained an active, loyal volunteer even through the 15 years of deficit the program suffered before enjoying the present four consecutive years of surpluses.
One of his most satisfying endeavors has been in support of the renovation and installation of the organ at the Jacoby Symphony Hall. Facilitating a major gift from his uncle Howard enabled the 6,000+ pipe organ to become one of the Symphony’s most valued assets. The Concert Organ Series sponsored by J.F. Bryan was initiated in 2021-22 to honor and share the vibrant beauty and power that is unique to live organ renderings and to highlight the extraordinary instrument. The series has since become a programming staple of the Symphony and presents three concerts curated and performed by master organist, Greg Zelek: a chamber concert, solo recital and a holiday brass-organ duo.
The Bryan family legacy extends beyond the Symphony as well. J.F.’s eldest son, Jeff, serves as head of the Board of Directors for the Florida Ballet, continuing the family’s tradition of arts leadership. J.F. himself has served on numerous boards and has offered support to many arts communities believing in the importance of the arts in people’s lives. He will continue to serve in any capacity he can, wherever he can—currently serving as board member of the Jacksonville Symphony, the Jacksonville Civic Council, Jacksonville University, the Jacksonville Historical Society Board, the Ronald McDonald House Advisory Board, Highlands-Cashiers Chamber Music, BOK Tower Gardens, James Madison Institute and trustee emeritus of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation. J.F. also founded Jacksonville LISC which provides in-depth support to challenged neighborhoods and served as active chairman for 20 years.
One never knows what the future may bring, and even though J.F.’s grandchildren aren’t involved yet, they very may follow the Bryan family way and become arts leaders. The future of the arts is bright when you think about the many families like the Bryans. From Uncle Ed’s Victrola to a packed Pavarotti concert in 1988, they have demonstrated how a love of music can ripple through time. This is why introducing youth to the arts is so vital, it plants seeds that can grow into a lifetime of appreciation and, sometimes, a legacy of stewardship. In this way, the Jacksonville Symphony isn’t just a performing arts organization—it is a true cultural heirloom.
The Jacksonville Symphony continues to honor the Bryan family’s enduring commitment and leadership, a reminder that lasting impact often begins with a single spark of inspiration shared across generations.
