Kathy and Timothy Taylor describe themselves as band kids where they grew up in Arkansas. Now they have found an outlet for that music appreciation in Florida with the Panama City Symphony. The couple has lived in Bay Point for three years and this is their second year as Symphony season ticket holders. 

“We enjoy the fact a Symphony is available to us at the local level,” said Kathy. “We do enjoy the music. We love Sergey [Bogza, the music director and conductor] and feel like he’s brought so much to our community. There is also so much talent with the musicians.”

Kathy played flute in junior high and high school plus was in theatre and musical productions. “Tom played percussion,” she said. During intermission at the opening show, which kicked-off the Symphony’s 30th season, they paused from their concert appreciation and socializing with Symphony friends to explain how their fondness for both has prompted them to travel to Europe in celebration of that.

They are going on a Panama City Symphony (PCS) Great Composers River Cruise along the Rhine in Germany. There they plan to enjoy music and fellowship from Cologne to Frankfurt in May of 2026, explained Kathy. “This gave us an opportunity to travel with people locally that we enjoy and we could get to know and have an extended relationship with, in an intimate venue rather than a big cruise ship.” During the trip, they will be entertained with onboard concerts by PCS musicians plus guided musical and cultural excursions.

The couple is no stranger to journeys. “We lived on our boat and traveled,” she said. Timothy explained the 15 months on their boat included Hurricane Ian in 2022 impacting a Ft. Myers boat marina at which they were supposed to stay. “And that’s what brought us to settle here in Panama City,” said Timothy. Additionally, Kathy has also lived in Georgia, and Tom in Missouri. “We have five grandkids who live here,” said Timothy. “We have ten all together. We have a son and daughter-in-law involved with Tyndall Air Force Base. He’s a pilot.” The Taylors have been married for 16 years.

In their neighborhood, Kathy is an active member of the Bay Point Women’s Club, where she enjoys supporting local charities and Tom is active in the St. Andrews Methodist church and enjoys fishing with family. “We love supporting the local community, the local restaurants and the local shop owners,” said Kathy. They also are members of the Carefree Boat Club that gives them the ability to rent a boat without ownership hassles. “We sold our boat, but can still get out anytime we want to.”

To catch up with the Taylor family, you can see them monthly at the Symphony and also have a bit of intermission connection. Information for concerts are at PanamaCitySymphony.org.