Discover how Sinfonia Gulf Coast is redefining the symphony experience in its 2024-2025 season — with powerhouse performances, innovative concerts and can’t-miss events — in this exclusive Q&A.
By Zandra Wolfgram
For the 19th season you are once again “redefining the symphony experience” with fresh offerings. Tell us about the first concert of the season, Luminescence: Catalyst by Candlelight on November 7.
Sinfonia is no stranger to unique performance offerings and, in fact, staged “candlelight” concerts over 10 seasons ago when we were performing in Rosemary Beach Town Hall. We had the opportunity to perform in the charming Seaside Chapel and the only thing that could illuminate the musicianship and pedigree of Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet is candles. It is the perfect back drop to do this type of presentation in a proper space. It is always important to present this type of concert with the highest caliber of musicians and venue. This sets Sinfonia apart from more recent concerts of others touting the same experience.
Often musicians and vocalists taking the Sinfonia stage are not just performers, they are longtime friends of yours. Singer/songwriter Morgan James returns for Big Band Holiday Toast ‘n Jam on December 8. Tell us why she’s so special to you and why this concert will get us in the spirit.
Isn’t that great? I have been so fortunate to meet and forge friendships with so many incredible people over the last 25 years! It makes it more fun when you have that connection and almost always, even if I am working with an artist for the first time, we leave the concert experience as friends. Morgan. I can write a novel on Morgan James. A really good one. We met by mistake. She was a last-minute replacement for a vocalist for our holiday pops in 2012. She blew the roof off that evening, and we never looked back.
She has become one of my best friends, sounding board and collaborator. There is not another voice on this planet that can match Morgan James. It is a very special instrument that is so versatile from coloratura opera to Broadway to pop to soul to jazz to R&B and I can go on. She is presenting her holiday themed big band concert that she debuted at Joe’s Pub in NYC last year. It is FUN!
Two words. The Grinch. Your innovative Film in Concert series has become one of the most popular offerings with families. Why should we not miss this December 14 concert?
Two Words: The Grinch. Three words: Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Three more words: Live in Concert. Aside from being a classic holiday movie, and with all due respect to Jim Carrey, Sinfonia’s orchestra steals the show in these films in concert, but I may be slightly biased. Sinfonia’s Film in Concert series is a great way for families and everyone really, to enjoy live music paired with iconic films. Nostalgia, excitement, joy—all of the emotions can be described as part of the experience.
Bette, Babs & Beyond sounds like a siren call for everyone who loves the music of legends like Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Adele and Cher. Sounds like January 17 is a party in the making. Tell us more.
We honored Music of the Knights last year with the tribute to Sirs Paul McCartney, Elton John and Andrew Lloyd Webber. So, it was appropriate to flip the switch and pay tribute to the amazing female voices of our time and this set list is non-stop hit after hit that will feature amazing vocalists, including the return of Jessica Hendy from Music of the Knights and the full orchestra.
February is the season of love and with Crescendo! 2025 Vintner Dinners kicking off February 28 and the Main Event on March 2, we understand Sinfonia will be Painting the Town Red starting with the January 30 Kick Off event. What can we expect this year?
Crescendo! is Sinfonia’s most important event each season because it raises the funds to keep all of our educational outreach and community engagement initiatives free to the school districts that we serve. This includes our Link Up partnership with Carnegie Hall, guest artists in schools, ensembles in residence that provide services throughout our community and our annual Paint the Music program in partnership with Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation. That aside, it is a blast and sets the social scene for the spring and summer. What not to like about incredible vintners paired with celebrity chefs and a big blowout main event all to raise funds for these important initiatives?
Sinfonia’s commitment to music is seen in its support of new works. You have commissioned Howard Levy to create a new concerto for harmonica and piano, which will be a U.S. Southeast premier. Why is it important to support new music and what can you tell us about your Classical Connections collaboration set for April 4?
Talk about friends in the biz. I first worked with Howard in 2003 in Cincinnati where he and pianist Anthony Molinaro were guests on a series that I curated for the Cincinnati Contemporary Art Museum. Sinfonia performed the Southeast U.S. premiere of his first concerto for harmonica and when he asked if I was interested in being involved with his newest offering, I could not refuse. Howard is one of those rare musicians that come along too infrequently, whose skills on harmonica are unparalleled in this universe, but to add piano, for which he is also scarily gifted on, it was a no brainer. Sinfonia will perform the world premiere of this new work for harmonica and piano with Howard performing.
New music and commissions and orchestrations of other existing works is critical to the survival of the orchestra art form. Sinfonia has always been on the forefront of this. While I would love to participate more in this realm, we are limited to the number of concerts we do each season; however, it is always important to support new artists, new works and collaboration is key!
Sinfonia has a history of surprising and delighting its audience with bold, innovative offerings. Composer Steve Hackman is known for his unexpected music pairings. Tell us how you plan to cap the Main Event season on May 18?
Relevance. That is a big word being tossed around these days. Why do orchestras who only offer classical music suffer from declining ticket sales … they are not relevant. Sinfonia has always been one-stop shopping for the entire genre of orchestral offerings to include masterworks, pops, chamber orchestra, chamber music and unique events incorporating other musical and art forms.
Sinfonia’s season concludes with Tchaikovsky X Drake. Whether you are familiar with either name, it is a concert that you can attend and thoroughly enjoy from the sheer vantage point that it is an incredible concert experience. Steve Hackman is an impresario of the mash up. Like his presentation of Beethoven X Coldplay that Sinfonia performed several seasons back, this takes Tchaikovsky’s epic 5th symphony and weaves elements of Drake’s music and lyrics in an ingenious manner. You have to experience it to understand how brilliant it is from the pure orchestral joy that radiates from Tchaikovsky to the vocalists and rap artist that correspond to Drake’s offerings, it is like nothing else you have witnessed.
You have expanded Sinfonia’s Music Education program this year by offering even more string programs, which are not offered in schools. As a musician, why should parents consider Sinfonia’s programs for their kids?
Sinfonia continues to fill a void by providing incredible and much-needed education offerings to our community, primarily in our Okaloosa and Walton County school districts. Our expanded beginning strings programs and youth orchestra programs have hit record enrollment numbers this school year and it is a program that is not offered by either district. In some cases, our Link Up curriculum is the only arts education several schools have. It is important to continue to develop these programs and the support of our patrons enables this. In fact, we have hired two additional instructors for the strings and youth orchestra programs and will need several more if the trajectory of expansion continues. It is very rewarding to know that your organization is making an important difference in the community and enlightening young minds.
This year, the state of Florida cut $32 million from the cultural arts budget impacting organizations statewide. What can music lovers do to support Sinfonia Gulf Coast?
To be clear: the state of Florida did not cut these funds, Gov. Ron DeSantis singlehandedly vetoed this line item from the state budget, directly going against the work of his state colleagues who, for months, diligently collaborated to approve funding for all of the arts organizations in Florida. Politics aside, this was a very short-sighted endeavor that has impacted 600 organizations and Florida’s economy considering cultural tourism provides nearly $6 billion to the economy each year.
There are many ways to play your part. Beyond donating funds, you can show support by attending our concerts and events, or by sponsoring a single event or the entire season, whether as an individual or business owner. We also welcome volunteers and inquiries about joining our music education social group, the Treble Makers, or exploring leadership opportunities on our Board of Directors. Visit our website (SinfoniaGulfCoast.org) and follow us on Facebook and Instagram to get to know us and learn more.
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