Keeping the tempo on the Emerald Coast’s cultural scene since its founding in 2005, Sinfonia Gulf Coast maintains the tradition of “symphony redefined” as it enters its 11th season as the region’s only fully professional symphony orchestra. Season 11, entitled RETROSPECTIVE, will offer a stellar lineup of concerts and educational initiatives featuring the orchestra and world-renowned guest artists.
The start of the main season and the Silver Sands Premium Outlets’ “Classical Connections” series opens on Thursday, Oct. 6 at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin and features classical guitarist Sharon Isbin in the Southeast U.S. premiere of Chris Brubeck’s “Affinity: Concerto for Guitar & Orchestra,” which was written for Isbin. Also on the performance are works by Vivaldi, Ginastera’s brilliant showpiece “Variaciones concertantes”, and “Symphony no. 40 in G Minor K. 550”, by W.A. Mozart.
Acclaimed by Guitar Player as “the pre-eminent guitarist of our time,” multiple Grammy Award winner Sharon Isbin has appeared as soloist with more than 170 orchestras and given sold-out performances in the world’s finest halls. Winner of the Toronto, Madrid and Munich Competitions, Germany’s Echo Klassik and Guitar Player’s “Best Classical Guitarist” award, she has been artistic director/soloist of festivals she created for Carnegie Hall and NPR. A frequent guest on “All Things Considered” and “A Prairie Home Companion,” she has been on the cover of more than 45 magazines, profiled on “CBS Sunday,” and featured soloist in Scorsese’s Oscar-winning “The Departed.”
“We are honored to have such a luminary in the world music scene join us for this special concert,” stated Sinfonia Music Director Demetrius Fuller. “To have Ms. Isbin along with long-time friend of Sinfonia, Chris Brubeck here for the Southeast U.S. premiere of the guitar concerto that he composed for her, is a huge musical opportunity for our community.”
Tickets for the performance are $45 for preferred (floor) seating and $29.50 for balcony. Season tickets are also still available for $165 per person, and feature preferred seating for all four main season concerts including Affinity featuring Sharon Isbin on Oct 6, The Manhattan Transfer on Dec. 16, Musical Time Travel featuring violinist Jennifer Koh on Jan. 20, 2017 and “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II,” on March 25, 2017. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of “Bugs Bunny at the Symphony II,” which will begin at 7 p.m.
Presenting Sponsor for the 2016-2017 season is Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Presenting Concerts Sponsor for the 2016-2017 season is Hancock Bank. Additional presenting sponsors include VIE Magazine, Presenting Media Sponsor; SoWal.com, Presenting E-media Sponsor; and Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa; Presenting Accommodations Sponsors. For more information or to purchase tickets, please go to SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 850-460-8800.
About Sinfonia Gulf Coast:
Sinfonia Gulf Coast was founded in 2005 on Florida’s Northwest Gulf Coast with the mission of redefining the symphony experience. Under the guidance of founder and Music Director Demetrius Fuller and a dedicated board of directors, the nonprofit orchestra is in its 11th season of innovative musical programming, designed to entertain, educate and inspire the community. Notable guest artists have included: Tony- and Emmy-winning star Kristin Chenoweth; Broadway legends Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone; R&B icon Roberta Flack, Mary Wilson of the Supremes; composer and performer Chris Brubeck; music narrator Jamie Bernstein, the Sao Paulo String Quartet; classical-crossover sensation Time for Three; The Hot Sardines; Manhattan Piano Trio; Epic recording artist Morgan James; Tony Award-winning vocalists Cheyenne Jackson, Gary Mauer and Debbie Gravitte; Grammy-nominated violinist Caroline Goulding; Grammy-Award winners John Pizzarelli, Howard Levy, Tracy Silverman, the Parker Quartet, New York Voices, The von Trapps and iconic big band Pink Martini. Since it’s founding, Sinfonia Gulf Coast has presented more than 430 concerts and events, has collaborated with numerous nonprofits and businesses throughout the community and has reached more than 90,000 children through its Sinfonia Guest Artists in the Schools program/music education outreach initiatives. More than 1,000 families have benefited from Sinfonia’s Students4FREE program, which provides complimentary tickets to live orchestral performances and musical events. Committed to music education, Sinfonia supports a 60-member youth orchestra program, led by Music Director Liz Aylor and, for the fourth consecutive season, is one of 90 orchestras worldwide to partner with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute of Music in its LINK UP program for third through fifth graders. Sinfonia Gulf Coast is also a proud collaborator throughout the Northwest Florida community, currently partnering with Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast in its Arts in Medicine program. Other significant partnerships supporting local arts organizations have included Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, through the “Paint the Music” program and free orchestra concerts for third through eighth graders; the Northwest Florida Ballet; the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County; and the Okaloosa Arts Alliance.
Date and Time
Thursday Oct 6, 2016
