Lauren Ander
Viola
TBS Personnel Manager

Lauren has been a violist with the Tampa Bay Symphony since 2003. From Virginia Beach, Virginia, she started out playing the piano and violin, but discovered a new passion her school orchestra needed more viola players. She attended the University of Virginia, where she received a BA and MA in Music. While in school, Lauren performed with the Charlottesville University Symphony and, each summer, with the Ashlawn-Highland Opera Festival.

She was invited after college to move to Italy to create a strings program at the American School of Mila. After teaching orchestra for two years, she moved to New York City to attend the Institute of Culinary Education in pursuit of her interests sparked by traveling abroad. Lauren moved to Tampa in 2002 and soon discovered SideBern's restaurant, where she has worked in various culinary roles. She is currently director of the artisanal cheese program for the company, including Bern's Steakhouse, where she composes cheese courses and educates customers through tasting events. In her spare time, Laruen and her boyfirend, Ron, pursue the infer things of life, seeking to experience all things gourmet.