As part of a cultural weekend in October 1981, a string quartet composed of the first chairs from the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra presented a free concert at Temple Beth Am in Kendall. This was so successful another one was presented in the spring of 1982. The success of this ground-breaking performance demonstrated the popular demand for affordable classical music concerts in South Miami. Prior to the 1980's Miami-Dade County offered few reasonably priced cultural programs of this quality.

In the series' third year, three concerts were presented with local artists. To provide the audience with something "special", subscribers were invited to Artists' Receptions following each performance and complimentary refreshments at intermission. From this small, simple, beginning, Sunday Afternoons of Music took shape.

Sunday Afternoons of Music enriches the lives of South Florida residents providing affordable high quality, classical music concerts for adults.

Serious music lovers are attracted to the series because of the talent of the internationally acclaimed artists. Each year audiences have increased due to the high caliber of artists and reasonable ticket prices.

As a concerned grandmother, the executive director noted the lack of quality cultural programming for children.

Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children was created in 1986. It was designed to introduce children to all types of music, song, and dance. The hour-long children's concerts are an informal and friendly introduction to the excitement of the performing arts with audience participation enthusiastically encouraged. An entertaining children's party concludes each afternoon's performance hosted by "Peter the Mime." Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children provides an excellent opportunity for families to experience a cultural event at reasonable prices. 

A few highlights of the past twenty six years of Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children include:
·	26 concert seasons.
·	Excellent cooperation with Miami-Dade County public, private and nursery schools
·	Complimentary tickets donated to community service organizations
·	Obtaining high quality, imaginative, interesting live cultural programming such as:
	Florida's Singing Sons Boychoir; Simon Salz, Ira Sullivan & Friends; Ensembles from the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra & the New World Symphony; Miami-Dade Community College Jazz Band; Leonore Piano Trio; Florida Grand Opera Young Artist Studio; U.of M. Singers; Dapper Dans Barbershop Quartet; the Greater Miami Symphonic Band; New World School of the Arts Conservatory Orchestra; Florida Youth Orchestra; the F.I.U. Symphony Orchestra. Peter & the Wolf is presented each year and has been narrated by celebrity personalities - Thomas Stewart, Martin Bookspan, Bob Soper, Ed Pierson and Bonnie Berman.

Sunday Afternoons of Music and Sunday Afternoons of Music for Children continues to serve and enrich the lives of adults, children and families of South Florida. 

In the 2002/2003 season the Gusman Concert Hall, University of Miami, Phillip and Patricia Frost School of Music Coral Gables Campus became the new home for both series. There is ample free parking with ease of access and compliance with all A.D.A. requirements.