Sinfonia Gulf Coast 2024-2025 Season Program

NURTURE OUR NATURE

A Shared Responsibility

With over 40% of our land preserved for nature, Walton County is well known for our pristine landscapes. The recently launched Keep Walton County Beautiful initiative empowers residents and visitors alike to make a positive impact through beautification, litter prevention, waste reduction and recycling. Together, we’ll continue to improve this unique environment for generations to come. Get involved at KeepWaltonCountyBeautiful.org.

When you’re ready to make a difference, we’re ready to help

Merrill supports Sinfonia Gulf Coast.

Jerry S. Brown, CPWA® Senior Vice President Senior Financial Advisor Senior Portfolio Manager

850.269.7002 jbrown75@ml.com

Merrill Lynch Wealth Management

34990 EMERALD COAST PKWY 4th Floor DESTIN, FL 32541

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The Bull symbol and Merrill are trademarks of Bank of America Corporation. CPWA® is a registered certification mark of the Investments & Wealth Institute®. For more information about the Institute and the CPWA certification, please visit investmentsandwealth.org.

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WELCOME TO SEASON 19!

To our dear patrons, sponsors and community partners, thank YOU for your unwavering support. Sinfonia Gulf Coast wouldn’t be where it is today without your generous support.

As we embark on the 2024-2025 season, we remain committed to our mission to entertain, educate, and inspire. This season promises to deliver unforgettable experiences, from Tony Award-winning Broadway star Alysha Umphress lighting up the Cabaret at Seagar’s stage to powerhouse singer/songwriter Morgan James adding cheer with her Big Band Holiday Toast ‘n Jam. We’ll also celebrate the music of legends like Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Adele and others, enjoy performances by harmonica and piano virtuoso Howard Levy, and even welcome The Grinch himself to the silver screen, accompanied by the Sinfonia Gulf Coast orchestra. Our 19th season truly offers something for everyone.

Mark your calendars on February 28 and March 2 for our annual Crescendo! “fun”-raiser, a celebration of musical and culinary arts. This spectacular event supports Sinfonia and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida, including our annual Link Up performances for third through fifth graders in partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute.

Our region’s ONLY fullyprofessional symphony orchestra

How YOU can help:

Did you know that ticket sales only cover a small percentage of Sinfonia’s annual operating costs? Your tax-deductible contribution will enable Sinfonia to continue to provide great music and educational outreach to our community.

Why is your support instrumental to our success? With more than 20,000 school children throughout Okaloosa, Walton and now Bay Counties experiencing the magic of live music with our award-winning Guest Artists in Schools, Ensembles in Residence initiative, Link Up in partnership with Carnegie Hall, all at no charge to them, their families or the schools, paired with the robust hands on training in Sinfonia’s After School Beginning Strings and Youth Orchestra programs, our programs are making a difference in the community — all with YOUR help!

We can’t wait to see you this season. In the meantime, feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, or just to say hello!

Musically

yours,

Demetrius Fuller Music & Artistic Director dfuller@sinfoniagulfcoast.org

A Letter from the Maestro

Founding Partners

Season Sponsors

A Note from Our President

Meet the Musicians

Our Donors

Play Your Part

Meet Maestro Demetrius Fuller

Making It Happen: Meet the Team

A Conversation with the Conductor

Making an Impact

Sinfonia Music Education

Sinfonia Cabaret at Seagar’s An Evening with Alysha Umphress

Your Support is Instrumental

Learn About Link Up

Sinfonia Education Initiatives

Luminescence: Catalyst by Candlelight

Sinfonia String Quartet in Residence

Big Band Holiday Toast n Jam Session feat. Morgan James

10 Reasons to Crescendo!

Be A Treble Maker

The Grinch in Concert

Bette Babs & Beyond

Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Concert Dates

Classical Connections feat. Howard Levy, harmonica + piano

Sinfonia Youth Orchestras: Musicians on a Mission

Crescendo! 2025: Save the Dates

Crescendo! Artist Lindsey Kate

Tchaikovsky X Drake

Sinfonia Woodwind Quintet in Residence

A STANDING OVATION FOR OUR FOUNDING PARTNERS

A STANDING OVATION FOR OUR

SEASON PRESENTING CONCERTS SPONSOR

CLASSICAL CONNECTIONS PRESENTING SPONSOR

PRESENTING MEDIA SPONSOR

PRESENTING CREATIVE SPONSOR

PRESENTING E-MEDIA SPONSOR

PODIUM PARTNERS

SEASON PRESENTING EDUCATION SPONSORS

INDIVIDUAL IMPRESARIOS

Dana & Glenn Armentor

Renee & James Beaman

Janis & Don Bishop

Stephanie & George Brannon

Lynn & Steve Dugas

Heavenly & Bill Dawson

Maureen & Keith Gamble

Yvonne & Greg Lala

SHAWN & RICHARD TOMASELLO

ROBERT M. FERGUSON MEMORIAL FUND FOR MUSIC EDUCATION

Lynn McKenzie & Leonard Olson

Tammy & Jim Pierce

Lynn & Bill Shearer

Shawn & Richard Tomasello

Pamela Wellborn

Bobbie & Jack White

Candis & Jack Wilson

SINFONIA MILITARY TICKET PROGRAM PRESENTING SPONSOR

2024 - 2025 SEASON SPONSORS

PLATINUM SPONSORS

POATE/BONJEAN FINANCIAL GROUP

SEASON MEDIA SPONSORS

Greetings Sinfonia friends!

It is an incredible honor to accept the role as the newly elected President of Sinfonia Gulf Coast. I am deeply grateful for this opportunity to serve an organization that holds such a special place in my heart.

Sinfonia is more than just beautiful music — it’s a lifeline for our community, where art, culture, and education come together to enrich lives and build a brighter future for our children.

Our mission extends beyond performances; we are planting seeds in the hearts and minds of future generations. Classical music is not just entertainment — it’s a vital tool for children’s growth, teaching discipline, creativity, and emotional expression.

I am excited to work with all of you to expand Sinfonia’s reach through new programs and initiatives that celebrate classical music and make it more accessible. Our upcoming educational workshops, youth outreach programs, and partnerships will bring music into schools and underserved areas, ensuring more children and families experience its transformative power.

Sinfonia is a family, and I’m thrilled to be part of it as we inspire future leaders who will carry forward the values of art, culture, and community. Together, our future is bright, and I have no doubt we’ll bring Sinfonia to new heights.

Thank you for your trust and support as we continue this incredible journey.

Elizabeth Boswell President of the Board Sinfonia Gulf Coast

SINFONIA GULF COAST MUSICIANS

Violins

Mari Lunde *

Kate Kelley ^

Kristin Pfeifer Yu ^

Masayoshi Arakawa

Petra Bubanja

Edward Charity

Ken Davis

Sara Fay

Jacqueline Fennell

Gabriela Fogo

Taylor Giorgio

Nicholas Hatt

Grace Kim

David LaBarre

Natasha Marsalli

Thomas Roggio

Miranda Rojas

Megan Sahely

Erika Sciascia

Price Sukhia

Viola

Laurel Yu ^

Daren Fuster ^

Luiz Barrionvevo

Margaret Gordon

Benjamin Suarez

Miriam Tellechea #

Catherine Yara °

Cello

Paul Miahky ^

Chun-Hsin Chang +

Jordan Galvarino

Mitchell George

Georgiy Khokhlov

Angelese Pepper °

Aleksandra Pereverzeva #

Double Bass

Alex Lunday ^ Gabriel Monticello

Kent Rivera Flute

Jessica Sherer ^

Angela McCuiston #

Sarah Jane Young ° Oboe Asher Kelly ^ Sherwood Will Wise

Clarinet

Samuel Peliska ^

Nancy Saleeby

Jin Yun °

Bassoon

Richard Hopkins ^

Shannon Lowe ^#

Josephine Whiteis °^

Trumpet

Brian Buerkle ^

Gerry Mata

Paul Morelli °

Kyle Mallari ° Horn

Bill Schaffer ^

Matthew Tavera +

Debra Finlayson

Brenda Luchsinger

Kelly Langenberg °

Trombone

Kenneth Johnson ^ Grant Keel

Bass Trombone

Jonathan Lacey ^

Evan Hurst °

Tuba

Charles Goodman ^

Percussion

John Thomas III ^

Austin Pellella +

Timpani

Brian Nozny ^

Harp

Rebekah Atkinson ^

Piano

Dan Smith ^

Librarian

Sara Fay

Personnel Manager

Laurel Yu

* Concertmaster

^ Principal

+ Assistant Principal

# Leave of Absence

° One Year

Substitute

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Maestro’s Circle $50,000+

Dugas Family Foundation

Emeril Lagasse Foundation

Maureen & Keith Gamble

Shawn & Richard Tomasello

Dana & Glenn Armentor

Lynn McKenzie

Seaside

South Walton TDC

Podium Partner $20,000+

Alys Beach Foundation

Elizabeth & Jared Boswell

Heavenly & Bill Dawson

Janis & Don Bishop

Lynn & Steve Dugas

St. Joe Community Foundation

VIP Destin

Giorgio Armani & Co

Jimmy Choo Corporate

Panerai

Cara & Rodney Jones

Conductor’s Circle $10,000+

Andrea Catania

Mary Higdon

Candis & Jack Wilson

Cumulus Media

Frances Roy Agency

Hancock Whitney Bank

Jacque Hamilton

Leslie Levy

Lynn & Bill Shearer

Marisol & Tony Gullo

Renee & Jim Beaman

Sandestin Investments

Greg & Yvonne Lala

Vivace $2,500- $9,999

Centennial Bank

Chris Poate

Doodlebugger’s

Eglin Federal Credit Union

Florida Power & Light

Forever Destin Beach Rentals

Harborwalk Village

Jack & Bobbie White

Jane Solomon – Barlovento, LLC

Joan Duncan

Joan & Stephen Carter

The Krueger Group –Merrill Lynch

Jerry Brown – Merrill Lynch

Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation

My New Place, LLC

Lovelace Interiors

Legendary Marine

Live Love 30A – Premier

Property Group

Patti Burcham

Publix

Scarlett Magazine

SETCO Services

Shantelle Dedicke

Thirty-A Review

Wells Fargo

Wylie Hutchison

Presto $1,000-$2,499

Beach Liqours

Brittany Loudermilk

Bijoux De Mer – Renee Krul

Bud & Alley’s

CLAY Garden & Gift

Christina Knight

Christine Fox

Debbie Duncan

Dave Phillips

Ella Marie Koscik

Elizabeth Boswell

Jared Boswell

John Boswell

The Jewel

Malpa Fuller

McCaskill & Company

Pamela Burge

Robert & Shelly Hinojosa

Tina Corr

Village of Baytowne Wharf

Allegro $500- $999

Angela Fiorita

Angela Rissi Siquara

Alyssa Osterloh

Aleta Jefferson

Alexa Castle

Alden Lagasse

Barry Johnson

Bart Begley

Casey Kosyk

Catherine Hay

Callie Anderson

Connie Yarbro

Charles Alexander

Dana Armentor

Daphne Corr

Debra Henry

Demetrius Fuller

Denise Kendust

Diane Neuman

Dorothea Berkhout

Chuck & Glenda Palmore

Erin Clayton

Gale Culling

Gail Murray

Heather Parrish

Jamie Gold

Janis Bishop

Jason & Cindy White

Jaysa Hunter

Jennifer Howard

Julia Vijacka

Joan Carter

Kathryn Jones

Laurie Ward

Leta Dehon

Leigh Wilde

Lisa Jones

Lynda Walker

Mary Tinsley

Lynn Dugas

Lynn McKenzie

Lynn Shearer

Mark Bonfanti

Marisol Gullo

Malpa Fuller

Maureen Gamble

Pamela Wellborn

Pattie Burcham

Peggy Stephen

Penny Jackson

Renee Krul

Rose Ann Fiorita

Sarah Baker

Shawn Tomasello

Shantelle Dedicke

Sherri Gastelum

Stacy Aggerton

Stephanie Brannon

Susan Burch

Susan Kaiser

Tanika O’Brien

Teresa Bolton

Tina Corr

Traci McQuillen

Trevor Redding

Trisha Henry

Tripp Cash

Velia Lala

Zandra Wolfgram

THANK YOU TO OUR DONORS

Andante $250-$499

Craig Gehring

Dana Hahn

Deb Nissley

Scott Ray

Sherri Futts

Sue Bubel

Lynn Wesson

Rachel Burgess

Adagio $100-$249

Audrey Barnes

Andrew Lott

Angelea Drennen

Dr. Audrey Kunin

Brendon Munn

Caleb Brown

Christine Hux

Christina Abbot

David Allen

David Lutz

Dina Phillips

Gail Pelto

Heather Boswell

Heather Thomas

Heidi Locicero

Ian & Haley Blaise

James Pyles

Janna Morrison

Jeanne Cosentino

Jeff Dannelly

Jeff Kunin

John Loudermilk

Julie Cumby

Julie Ray

Justin Hughes

Justin Shane

Kathy Schumacher

Kristin Burke

Kelly Nuckolls

Lane Redding

Lori Burkart

Lori Smith

Lydia Collins

Madison Johnston

Melanie Schweizer

Melissa Watson

Michael Baldacci

Patrick Potter

Robert Henry

Ryan Hewitt

Sharlene Denton

Shawna Weinberg

Sue Perez

Star Darling

Stephanie Shea

Steven Delaunois

Sonia Tolbert

Teena Ullrich

Tim Collins

Todd Reeves

Tyler Simmons

Vivace $2,500+

A gift at this level will enable us to hire a guest artist

Presto $1,000 - $2,499

A gift at this level will assist with education concerts

Allegro $500 - $999

A gift at this level will pay for musicians for one concert

Andante $250 - $499

A gift at this level will pay for musicians to visit one school

A gift at this level will enable us to purchase music

ADDITIONAL S TO KNOW ON GIVING TO SINFONIA GULF COAST

Looking for a way to help further the mission of the Sinfonia Gulf Coast? There are numerous ways to give that advance the goals of the orchestra while providing meaningful benefits for you and your family.

Qualified Charitable Distributions or QCDs from IRA

IRA charitable giving is a way you can transfer funds from your IRA to Sinfonia Gulf Coast while realizing substantial tax benefits. If you are at least 70 ½ or older and have an IRA, you can reduce your taxable income and you may lower your taxable Social Security (from your IRA withdrawals).

Additional Benefits of an IRA Qualified Charitable Distribution

• Avoid taxes on transfers of up to $105,000 annually (indexed for inflation)

• May satisfy your required minimum distribution (RMD) for the year, or exceed it

• Help avoid thresholds for net investment income tax or phaseout range for certain itemized reductions

Leave a Lasting Legacy

Make a contribution that will benefit future generations of lovers of live symphonic music and music education throughout our community through bequests, trusts, and other planned gifts.

By naming Sinfonia Gulf Coast as a beneficiary in your will or by making other planned gifts, you invest in the future of the organization with the return of possibly realizing significant tax advantages for yourself and your loved ones.

Please consult your tax professional and financial advisor for the most up-to-date information about charitable giving.

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Meet Maestro Demetrius Fuller

Music & Artistic Director

Innovative and energetic conductor

Demetrius Fuller has garnered critical acclaim at home and abroad. The 2024-2025 season marks his 19th as Music & Artistic Director of Florida’s Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Fuller has redefined the cultural landscape of Northwest Florida by offering inspiring and artistically inventive performances, exciting critics and patrons alike.

CONDUCTOR

Fuller is an award recipient from the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, the Werner Foundation, and the International Music Foundation. Fuller trained at the prestigious University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, receiving both his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees.

MUSICIAN

As an accomplished clarinetist, Fuller has performed in the Dame Myra Hess Chamber Music Series, sponsored by the International Music Foundation and broadcast live on Chicago’s WFMT 98.7 FM. Festival appearances include the Opera Theater of Lucca (Italy), David Oistrakh (Estonia), Aspen, Cabrillo and Eastern Music Festival (USA). He has appeared in master classes with Gustav Meier, Michael Tilson-Thomas, Daniel Lewis, Marin Alsop, Neeme Järvi, Jorma Panula, Larry Rachleff, David Loebbel, and the late Robert Shaw. Fuller has been fortunate to work with various icons in the music industry including: Roberta Flack, Patti LaBelle, Bernadette Peters, Mary Wilson, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Vanessa Williams, Sharon Isbin, Chris Brubeck and Pink Martini, among others.

ARTS ADVOCATE

An advocate of contemporary music, Fuller has premiered, commissioned and/ or collaborated with composers such as Augusta Read-Thomas, Dorothy Hindman, Thomas Schneller, Ricardo Zohn-Muldoon, Joel Hoffman, Moiya Callahan, Samuel Robles, Steven Winteregg, Tan Dun, giving the Southeastern U.S. premier of his Crouching Tiger Concerto and Chris Brubeck, giving the Southeastern U.S. premier of both his violin concerto Spontaneous Combustion and symphonic tribute Ansel Adams: America, which was co-composed with his father, the late Dave Brubeck. Fuller lead the Southeast U.S. premier of Identity – Zhongshan Zhuang, co-composed by Victor Cheng and Michael Gordon Shapiro, co-commissioned and performed the U.S. premiere of Chris Brubeck and Guillaume Saint-James Brothers in Arts, conducted the world premiere of Nico Muhly’s full orchestration of his electric violin concerto Seeing is Believing, co-commissioned Billy Childs’ Diaspora: Concerto for Saxophone and Orchestra for Steven Banks, and this season has commissioned and will perform the

world premier of new dual concerto for harmonica and piano by Howard Levy.

INTERNATIONAL ACCLAIM

Abroad, Fuller was invited several times by Maestro Kurt Masur to conduct the l’Orchestre Nationale de France (Paris) in a set of conductor readings. For two seasons, Fuller served as resident conductor of Brazil’s Festival of the Mountains in Poços de Caldas and was one of two conductors selected world-wide to conduct the Iraqi National Symphony and three other Iraqi orchestras in a groundbreaking Unity Academy in Erbil, Northern Iraq sponsored by American Voices and the U.S. Department of State.

A versatile conductor, Fuller has been chosen to work with some of the world’s most prestigious conductors and orchestras.

LEADERSHIP

Fuller sits on the board of directors of the prestigious New York City-based Young Concert Artists (YCA) and will continue to oversee the annual Sinfonia Gulf Coast Prize offered to a winner of the YCA finals each Fall. In 2009, New York City-based Musicians For Harmony appointed Maestro Fuller as one of three Artistic Advisors, an honor shared with musical luminaries Arnold Steinhardt of the renowned Guarneri String Quartet and violinist Cho-Liang Lin.

Locally, Fuller serves as a Trustee of the Destin Charity Wine Auction Foundation, is a past chair of the American Cancer Society’s Cattle Barons’ Ball, has served on the boards of Alaqua Animal Refuge, Cultural Arts Alliance, Emerald Coast Children’s Advocacy Center, Okaloosa Arts Alliance, and continues to serve as a grant panelist for the Florida Division of Cultural Affairs. In 2023, Fuller was named as a mentor for Grammy U participants in the Grammy Awards/Recording Academy, and in 2024 was elected to the Academy as the first professional member.

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MAKING IT HAPPEN

Sinfonia Gulf Coast Personnel

Demetrius Fuller Music & Artistic Director

Annalise Dedicke Administrative & Programs Manager Executive Assistant to CEO

Daniel Milana Director of Development

Beth Clavier Director of Events & Patron Services

Deborah Elmore Auction & Special Events Coordinator

Zandra Wolfgram Director of Marketing & Communications

Margaret Gordon Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Music Director Coordinator of Education & Community Engagement

Miranda Rojas Education & Outreach Assistant

Isabella Awodelle Strings Instructor

Laurel Yu Artistic Administration and Personnel Manager

Sara Fay Orchestra Librarian

Beth Clavier

Director of Events & Patron Services

A native of the Emerald Coast, Beth Clavier feels a great connection to our area and is happy to be back home, doing what she loves. Having had a career in entertainment spanning over two decades, the industry has taken her far and full circle.

From her humble beginnings as a 20-yearold theater volunteer, to managing the annual marquis events at NBC Universal in Orlando, to opening a dynamic entertainment resort in Singapore, Clavier is thrilled to be a full-time Emerald Coast resident again.

Her early career included working for the Screen Actors Guild (SAG), staging a range of large-scale productions including the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York City, the Ice! sculpture event for Gaylord Palms and well over 100 live music concerts.

In her previous role with Resorts World Sentosa in Singapore, Clavier was on the opening team as an Entertainment

Production Manager for the resort as a whole, as well as the Universal Studios Singapore theme park, S.E.A. Aquarium as well as the Maritime Museum within it.

Clavier says that she lives to see people enjoying themselves and strives to create and execute events that help people escape, while at the same time benefiting our community by raising funds to expose our local children to quality cultural arts experiences.

You can find Clavier behind the scenes as the Production Manager for Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation as well.

Adventure, art and travel is how this event planner recharges, as she is always on a mission to experience something new. She really enjoys finding the solace in nature with her daughter, Haegen, and loves spending time with her family when she’s not behind the scenes at your favorite event.

Living in Cheyenne, Wyoming, with her Air Force family, Annalise S.R. Dedicke embraced the local culture and began her artistic journey as a dedicated violin student, quickly advancing to First Chair in her school orchestra. Her organizational skills were sharpened through volunteer work with Visit Cheyenne, the local convention and visitor’s bureau. In 2017, Dedicke moved to Boston to pursue a double major in Marketing and English, eventually moving home to continue her education at Northwest Florida State College.

Her professional journey continued after she relocated to Florida, where she thrived as an Event and Office Coordinator at her family business, Frances Roy Agency. Here, she orchestrated events like the J. Leon Gallery Sip N’ Strolls and the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Emerald Coast Foodie Festivals,

Annalise S.R. Dedicke Administrative & Programs Manager Executive Assistant to CEO

showcasing her fervor for meticulous and efficient logistical coordination.

In 2021, Dedicke joined Sinfonia Gulf Coast as an Administrative and Programs Coordinator, and within a year, she expanded her role to include the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation. Her responsibilities advanced to managing arts education outreach programs, organizing silent and live auctions, and arranging custom excursions to destinations like New York, Napa Valley, and Las Vegas. This rapid growth in her roles is a testament to her adaptability and competence.

She lives in Niceville, Florida, with her energetic dog, Joseph Talon. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and exploring new adventures.

Margaret Gordon

Music Director, Sinfonia Youth Orchestras Coordinator of Education & Community Engagement

A native of Fort Walton Beach, Florida, Margaret Gordon is pleased to be returning to the Gulf Coast to give back to the community that fostered her musical ability as a child. As a former student in the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Youth Orchestra, she feels honored to lead others in realizing their musical gifts and nurturing the foundational skills needed to create the next generation of musicians.

Gordon has maintained a string and piano studio and teaches all ages. She specializes in the beginning string student and focuses on a positive approach to teaching that instills a sense of pride and self-efficacy in her students. Her personal approach to teaching allows her students to be curious about their progress and develop the skills necessary to become self-sufficient. Her

emphasis on teamwork and collaboration makes her an empathetic listener when directing ensembles.

In addition to directing the Sinfonia Gulf Coast Youth Orchestra program and our After School Beginning Strings Programs, Gordon is eager to promote music education in the surrounding counties and believes that music is an experience that all have the right to partake in regardless of their circumstances.

Gordon received a Bachelor of Music in Performance at the University of West Florida and a Master of Music in Performance at Appalachian State University. Her primary instrument is viola.

Miranda Rojas

Education & Outreach Assistant

Miranda Rojas is a passionate educator and performer based in Okaloosa County, Florida. Previously a member of the Carriola Quartet, Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Quartet-in-Residence, she now works with the organization as their Education and Outreach Assistant. She also maintains a private studio, Rojas Strings, where she teaches violin, viola, and cello.

As a teacher, Rojas believes in instilling her students with confidence and creativity. She seeks to learn how to best serve each individual student. She is Suzuki trained and has an interest in cross-cultural teaching strategies and a range of musical styles.

Rojas performs regularly in the region on the violin and viola, including as Principal Second Violin with Panama City Symphony

Orchestra, as well as a section musician with Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Pensacola Symphony Orchestra, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra (MS) and Albany Symphony Orchestra. She is also the Music Director for HERo, a Tallahassee-based organization that works to amplify the voices of women in music and perform music by women composers. Her voice can be heard on the HERo Talk podcast. Rojas collaborates regularly with pianist Rebecca Edmiston, and the two frequently give duo recitals.

Rojas received a Master of Music in Violin Performance from Florida State University, where she studied with Corinne Stillwell, and a Bachelor of Music in Violin Performance from Belmont University, where she studied with Elisabeth Small.

Isabella Awodele is a music educator relocating to the Emerald Coast from Atlanta, Georgia. She and her husband have moved to Fort Walton Beach for his military assignment at Eglin AFB.

Awodele is a strong advocate for string music education. She began playing viola at age 11 as a product of the Gwinnett County School District. In 2023, she graduated from Kennesaw State University with a bachelor’s degree in music education and worked in the Cobb County School District as the Betty Gray Middle School Orchestra Director.

Isabella Awodele String Instructor

She has also maintained a private studio since 2021 teaching violin, viola, and cello to students ages 6 to 17. As a teacher, she emphasizes the importance of students mastering foundational concepts such as posture, technique, music literacy, and tuning to foster successful musicianship from the very beginning.

Awodele is eager to continue her journey in string music education and is happy to have found a home with the Sinfonia Gulf Coast.

Daniel Milana Director of Development

Daniel Milana is a seasoned professional in the field of media, fundraising, project management, and content production. With a wealth of experience, he has honed his skills in creating, producing, and executing engaging editorial and branded content programming for both local and national media.

Milana attended Florida International University and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Film Production from the Art Institutes in Atlanta. He is certified in Fundraising from the Georgia Center of Nonprofits. He has applied his talents to event fundraising and grant management raising funds and organizing some of the largest film and entertainment festivals in the country, including Sundance and the Atlanta Film Festival.

Milana’s portfolio boasts collaborations with renowned brands such as Capital One, Home Depot, Starbucks, Mattel, and media outlets like NPR, NBC, Telemundo and Lifetime Television.

Born and raised in Long Island, New York, Milana remains a devoted fan of the Yankees and Falcons, reflecting his passion for sports and loyalty to his favorite teams. Additionally, his Brazilian heritage has granted him the valuable skill of fluency in Portuguese and proficiency in Spanish, fostering connections across cultures.

Milana recently relocated from Atlanta to Santa Rosa Beach, where he resides with his wife and two children.

As a marketing communication professional for more than 30 years, Zandra Wolfgram has promoted the performing arts in Cleveland, cultural tourism in New Orleans; and hotels, resorts, and restaurants throughout Northwest Florida.

A passionate arts advocate, Wolfgram launched her career promoting the performing arts for the Cleveland Playhouse, Theatre League of Cleveland and Great Lakes Theatre. In New Orleans, she was on a two-member team for Arts Tourism Partnership, a national cultural arts pilot program.

After relocating to Northwest Florida in 1999, Wolfgram led the marketing/PR efforts to open resorts, hotels, restaurants, retail stores, golf courses and mixed-use centers. She launched award-winning brand campaigns, established a PR division for a major resort and concepted a magazine, newspaper and television channel — all of which were award winning.

A writer who holds a journalism degree from Ohio Wesleyan University, Wolfgram held the editorship for Emerald Coast magazine for seven years and was a senior writer for both

Zandra Wolfgram

Director of Marketing & Communications

Tallahassee and 850 Business magazines. Her byline has appeared on destination travel stories for dozens of resort publications, Forbes Travel, Visit Florida and VisitSouth.com, for which she was the Destin/Fort Walton Beach Insider.

A founding member and past president of the Northwest Florida Coast Chapter of the Florida Public Relations, her work has earned more than 50 industry awards.

An avid arts advocate, Wolfgram supports national art causes such as Musical Theatre Project, Costume Industry Coalition, and Americans for the Arts.

Locally, she served on the Emerald Coast Theatre Company board (2014-2022), and is a proud member of Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County and the Arts & Design Society of Fort Walton Beach.

She lives with her husband on a 3-mile barrier island, where she enjoys “shabby chic-ing” vintage furniture, frequenting festivals and kicking back with her sullen bulldog, Hapi.

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A CONVERSATION WITH THE CONDUCTOR

Discover how Sinfonia Gulf Coast is redefining the symphony experience in their 2024-2025 season — with powerhouse performances, innovative concerts, and can’t-miss events — in this exclusive Q&A.

By Zandra Wolfgram

Q: The 2024-2025 season kicks off with a bang. As in a powerhouse performance by Broadway star Alysha Umphress. Why is Cabaret at Seagar’s such a beloved event and what’s in store for this year on September 17?

The Cabaret at Seagar’s transports patrons to another era in its NYC/Cafe Carlyle-esque vibe where you don’t know you are not sitting in the middle of Manhattan listening to some of the most phenomenal talents on the music scene today. This year’s cabaret artist is in a vocal league of her own. I know patrons will be blown away.

Q: 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.

Q: 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!

Maestro Demetrius Fuller conducts Sinfonia Gulf Coast (2024)

Photo Credit: Jim Clark

Photography

Q: 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.

Q: 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 McCartnery, 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.

Q: 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?

Q: 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. premier 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 premier 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

Broadway star Brian Stokes Mitchell with Maestro Fuller after Holiday Pops (2023)

Photo

Credit: NASCO/Nathan Saczynski

of this and while I would love to participate more in this realm, we are limited to the number of concerts that we do each season; however, it is always important to support new artists, new works and collaboration is key!

Q: 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.

Q: 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.

Photo Credit: Jim Clark

Photography

Photo Credit: NASCO/Nathan Saczynski

Stephen Banks and Maestro Fuller perform U.S. Southeast premier of Billy Childs’ Diaspora (2024)

Vocalist Morgan James with Maestro Fuller at 2024 Young Concert Artists fundraiser

Q: 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, Governor 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.

Maestro Fuller takes a selfie during his favorite concert, Link Up (2024)

After School Beginner Strings Programs

Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Ensembles

Guest Artists in Schools

orchestra

SINFONIA INITIATIVES

Bubba NORTHWEST FLORIDA WEDDINGS: ADD ‘WOW’ TO YOUR DAY OF VOWS

ON A MISSION TO... ENTERTAIN | EDUCATE | INSPIRE

If children are not introduced to music at an early age, I believe something fundamental is actually being taken from them.

— Luciano Pavarotti

When you hear the hum of 3,700 grade school children clutching recorders and barely able to contain their excitement as a live Link Up concert is about to commence, it’s clear, after 15 years, educational outreach remains at the forefront of Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s mission.

Entertain. Educate. Inspire. These three simple words are a mandate for Northwest Florida’s only fully professional orchestra and its music and artistic director, maestro Demetrius Fuller. And that includes young music makers.

Thanks to the generous support of its community partners, by the end of the 2024-2025 season, Sinfonia will have served more than 220,000 children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

Some of the many ongoing initiatives Sinfonia uses music to reach and connect with young people each year:

Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Ensembles

After School Beginning Strings Programs

Link Up program in conjunction with Carnegie Hall

Guest Artists in Schools

Live orchestra performances for students

Paint the Music in partnership with 3rd-8th graders in Okaloosa & Walton Counties

Ensembles in Residence in the schools in partnership with Florida State University

Arts in Medicine Program

Membership Keeps Arts FUNded

By Zandra Wolfgram

Looking for fun? You have arrived. As a member of the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF), you are already aboard the “bus to fun town.”

Take it from the MKAF’s CEO of Fun, Demetrius Fuller.

“We really want to up our fun factor in all we do … including raising awareness and funding. Our new tagline is Membership Keeps Arts FUNded” Demetrius Fuller, Chief

Executive Officer & Artistic Officer

To realize our vision to “enhance and inspire every life through arts and culture,” it takes community support. As Fuller explains, individual giving has always been the rock bed of MKAF.

“The Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation was initially started from the Arts Guild Lunch attended by local art lovers and evolved into the huge support system of volunteers, patrons and sponsors we have today. Membership is the backbone of MKAF and a direct tie to the community. Taking part as an individual member helps to support the arts education and outreach that Mattie Kelly is known for,” Fuller says.

Melanie Moore is the director of education and couldn’t agree more. This year, she has nearly 160 custom ArtsReach programs already underway. From teaching artists, residencies, workshops touring performances and summer camps, each offering is designed to uniquely benefit a range of diverse populations from the needs of K-12 students, children and adults with special needs to veteran and active-duty military service members.

“We’re connecting with and providing creative opportunities for populations that lack access to art,” Moore explains.

“We tailor our programs to those who uniquely benefit from different ways of learning innovative and unique programming. We want to share the arts and a love of the arts with everyone we can and with the best programming we possibly can.”

And this is where you come in. MKAF cannot deliver quality arts programming without your help. So please join us.

“Membership is affordable and the benefits are fun,” assures Fuller. “Where

else can you spend $150 and get access to 10 concerts, a discount on Festival of the Arts merchandise, plus discounts on MKAF wine dinner events? You just can’t.”

Join/Renew Now for the 2024-2025 Season

Art Nouveau (40 years old and under)

Single $75 – A new category for those 40 years of age and under. Member benefits include a season pass to all of the Concerts in the Village with early admission access and a discount on Festival of the Arts merchandise, plus preferred pricing to all MKAF events.

Pop Art – Single $150 or Couple $250 –Member benefits include a season pass to all of the Concerts in the Village with early admission access and a discount on Festival of the Arts merchandise, plus preferred pricing to all MKAF events. This category is available as a single or reduced fee for couple who reside in the same residence.

Renaissance Single $275 – Includes all member benefits of the Pop Art category + one preferred seat at a VIP table at all of the Concerts in the Village, table is assigned upon arrival. (This is a limited membership category and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.)

Impresario Single $500 – Includes all member benefits of the Pop Art category + one preferred seat at a VIP table at all of the Concerts in the Village + a total of 10 general admission tickets to use at any Concerts in the Village. (This is a limited membership category and will be filled on a first come, first served basis.)

Plus, pledging your support is easy to do. Simply go to the MKAF website and sign up on the membership page.

Supporting MKAF means you are a champion of the arts. Since forming in 1995, MKAF has impacted 337,800 through our ArtsReach programs.

Receive one season pass to our Concerts in the Village.

APRIL 10-JUNE 12, 2025 Annual Thursday evening concert series featuring a diverse genre of music suitable for all ages and families.

Enjoy early admission access to Concerts in the Village.

APRIL 10-JUNE 12, 2025 Beat the crowd by arriving early to set up your VIP table or snag a primo spot on the lawn.

Receive a discount to Arty Kick Off Party and Festival of the Arts merchandise.

OCTOBER 25-27, 2024 Annual arts festival featuring fine artists exhibiting their original art, live music, food trucks, crafted cocktails.

Receive membership rates on MKAF events throughout the year.

Such as Artful Dining events and more.

Know that your membership fees impact students, veterans and adults of all abilities throughout Northwest Florida.

Transform your vision into reality on our scenic grounds featuring a beautiful covered stage situated on 45 acres of land nestled between the Choctawhatchee Bay and the sugar-sand beaches of Destin. With a 7-acre event lawn and 79,547 square feet of flexible space, there's room for everyone. Whether it's a wedding, concert or corporate gathering, our flexible venue adapts to suit nearly any occasion accommodating groups ranging from 10 to 3,500 guests.

Win-win. Enjoy the reward of great stewardship. Booking your event at the Dugas Pavilion supports Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation and its mission as a champion of the arts for all abilities in Northwest Florida. Visit MKAF.org

Join us for a spectacular evening with award-winning Broadway star and television actress Alysha Umphress. With impeccable vocals, magnetic storytelling, and contagious charisma, Umphress captivates. Her undeniable talent has been showcased in On the Town (Tony nomination), American Idiot (Grammy Award), Smokey Joe’s Café (Chita Rivera Award), and the world premiere of Beaches (Helen Hayes nomination).

Come and experience the magic of Alysha Umphress live on stage!

ALYSHA UMPHRESS

Alysha Umphress is a New York City-based performer who recently made her debut singing Bernstein at the world-famous La Scala Opera House in Milan, Italy.

Umphress made a splash on Broadway starring as Hildy, the man-hungry cab driver in the critically acclaimed hit revival of On The Town Other Broadway/Off-Broadway credits include the original company of American Idiot (Grammy Award Winner for Best Musical Theater Album), On a Clear Day You Can See Forever starring Harry Connick Jr., the “Legendary Soloist” in Bring It On!, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Scotland, PA, and the revival of Smokey Joe’s Cafe, which earned her a Lucille Lortel nomination for Best Supporting Actress and a Chita Rivera Award for Best Ensemble. Outside of NYC, Ms. Umphress was nominated for a Helen Hayes Award for Best Leading Actress for her portrayal of Cee Cee Bloom (a role made famous by Bette Midler in the film) in the world premiere musical adaptation of Beaches at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre. She is an associate artist at Barrington Stage Company, where she has appeared in six main stage productions and countless concerts over the past 16 seasons.

As a Principal Vocalist, Umphress has performed with the London Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Sir Simon Rattle in Leonard Bernstein’s Wonderful Town (Ruth Sherwood), recorded on the LSO label and available to stream on Spotify; On The Town (Hildy) with the San Francisco Symphony under the baton of Michael Tilson Thomas; The Boston Pops; Savannah Philharmonic; Asheville Symphony; Orchestre Philharmonique de Strasbourg; Orchestre National de Lille; and most recently with the Orchestra Teatro Regio Torino at the world-famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan. Alysha has performed all over NYC at venues including Birdland, Joe’s Pub, 54 Below, The Carlyle, Sony Hall, Webster Hall, The Highline Ballroom, The Iridium, LPR, The Cutting Room, and many more.

Recordings include I’ve Been Played: Alysha Umphress Swings Jeff Blumenkrantz, On The

Town, American Idiot (Grammy Award for Best Broadway Cast Recording), Fugitive Songs, Bring It On! (Legendary Soloist), 13 Stories Down, Whatever I Want It To Be (duetting with jazz superstar Jane Monheit), Alysha Umphress Live at the Laurie Beechman, and the just-released Alysha Umphress and Things…Like This (live from her sold-out solo show at Joe’s Pub in 2022). She was awarded the gold medal in the 2023 American Traditions Vocal Competition in Savannah, GA.

TV credits include American Horror Story: Delicate, Chicago Med, Blue Bloods, Girls5Eva, The Climb, Law & Order: SVU, Nurse Jackie, Royal Pains, and as Murphy on two seasons of the Emmynominated Netflix series Bonding She can also be seen as Zoe in the online Olay musical campaign. She has made guest appearances on The Today Show, Good Morning America, The Late Show with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, the 52nd Annual Grammy Awards, and the 64th and 69th Annual Tony Awards.

Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, Umphress attended high school as a vocal major at the prestigious School of the Arts. She received her BFA in Musical Theatre from The Boston Conservatory.

Students in grade 3-5 are given the opportunity to join the orchestra in this highly participatory program, in which they learn to sing and play an instrument in the classroom and perform with a professional orchestra from their seats at a culminating concert with Sinfonia Gulf Coast.

With 2,400 acres from the beach to the bay, gorgeous meeting space and endless activities, Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort® and Hotel Effie are the perfect duo when it comes to meetings and events. The pair offers 50,000 square feet of contiguous meeting space (80,000 sq. ft. resort wide) conveniently located walking distance to The Village of Baytowne Wharf and a multitude of team building activities and excursions for your group to explore and discover.

SINFONIA EDUCATION INITIATIVES

Each year Sinfonia Gulf Coast impacts more than 20,000 students throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties, Florida. Continued support from our education partners throughout the community has enabled the organization to continue to bring the highest quality music education initiatives via live orchestra concerts, musicians and guest artists in the schools, a Youth Orchestra program, and expanded collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Link Up project.

Continuing Initiatives:

Link Up Program in conjunction with Carnegie Hall

Paint the Music for 3rd-8th graders in Okaloosa and Walton Counties

Live orchestra performances for students

Concert attendance and bus transportation is always provided free of charge to schools and students

Sinfonia Youth Orchestra Ensembles

Chamber music performance opportunities for students

After School Beginning Strings Programs

Private studio lessons for string students

Guest Artists in Schools

Ensembles in Residence in the schools in partnership with Florida State University

Impacted more than 220,000 school children since 2006

Go to SinfoniaGulfCoast.org/education to

LUMINESCENCE

Catalyst by Candlelight

Thursday, Nov. 7 | 7:30 PM

Seaside Chapel

Hailed by The New York Times at its Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished… playing with earthy vigor,” the Grammy Award-winning Catalyst Quartet, will redefine your classical music experience with a serene, intimate candlelit concert in the architecturally praised Seaside Chapel. With members Karla Donehew Perez (violin), Abi Fayette (violin), Paul Laraia (viola), and Karlos Rodriguez (cello), the Catalyst Quartet is known for its “perfect ensemble unity” and “unequaled class of execution.” Add this enchanting 30A concert to your fall calendar and join us with someone special for a memorable evening of live music.

LUMINESCENCE: CATALYST BY CANDLELIGHT

CATALYST QUARTET

Karla Donehew Perez, violin

Abi Fayette, violin

Paul Laraia, viola

Karlos Rodriguez, cello

INTERSECTIONS

But Just A Minute

Farewell Mambo

Wapango

Suite del Angel

Introduction

Milonga

Muerte del Angel

Resurrection

Lullaby

String Quartet in F Major

Allegro moderato

Assez vif, trés rythmé

Trés lent

Vif et agité

INTERMISSION

(arr. Catalyst Quartet)

Exclusive Management: ARTS MANAGEMENT GROUP, INC., 130 W. 57th St., New York, NY 10019

PAQUITO D’RIVERA

ASTOR PIAZZOLLA

GEORGE GERSHWIN

MAURICE RAVEL

CATALYST QUARTET

“We believe in the unity that can be achieved through music and imagine our programs and projects with this in mind, redefining and reimagining the classical music experience.”

Hailed by The New York Times at its Carnegie Hall debut as “invariably energetic and finely burnished … playing with earthy vigor,” the Grammy Awardwinning Catalyst Quartet was founded by the internationally acclaimed Sphinx Organization in 2010. The ensemble (Karla Donehew Perez, violin; Abi Fayette, violin; Paul Laraia, viola; and Karlos Rodriguez, cello) believes in the unity that can be achieved through music and imagines its programs and projects with this in mind, redefining and reimagining the classical music experience.

The Catalyst Quartet, known for “perfect ensemble unity” and “unequaled class of execution” (Lincoln Journal Star), has toured widely throughout the United States and abroad, including soldout performances at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., at Chicago’s Harris Theater, Miami’s New World Center, and Stern Auditorium/ Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall in New York. The quartet has been guest soloists with the Cincinnati Symphony, New Haven Symphony, St. Paul Chamber Orchestra, and the Orquesta Filarmónica de Bogotá, and has served as principal players and featured ensemble with the Sphinx Organization’s featured ensemble, the Sphinx Virtuosi, on six national tours.

They have been invited to perform at important music festivals such as Mainly Mozart in San

Diego, the Great Lakes Chamber Music Festival, Sitka Music Festival, Juneau Jazz and Classics, Strings Music Festival, Music in the Vineyards, and the Grand Canyon Music Festival, where they appear annually. The Catalyst Quartet was ensemble-in-residence at the Vail International Dance Festival in 2016 and in the 202123 seasons was in residence with San Francisco Performances where they presented the complete series of works from their Uncovered Project. In 2014, they opened the Festival del Sole in Napa, California with Joshua Bell and participated in England’s Aldeburgh Music Foundation String Quartet Residency with two performances in Jubilee Hall. In 2022, the Catalyst Quartet was named ensemble in residence for the Chamber Music Northwest Festival in Portland and for the Met Museum’s LiveArts series in NYC.

Recent seasons have brought international engagements in Cuba, Canada, Mexico, Argentina, Colombia, and Puerto Rico, and expanded tours throughout the United States. The ensemble’s New York City presence has included concerts at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, at Columbia University’s Miller Theatre, for Schneider Concerts at The New School, for Lincoln Center’s Great Performers Series, at the 92nd Street Y, and six concerts with Grammy Award-winning jazz vocalist Cécile McLorin Salvant for Jazz at Lincoln Center, for which the subsequent recording won the 2018 Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Album. The Catalyst Quartet

Photo Credit: Ricardo Quiñones

launched its New York concert series CQ@Howl in 2018.

Highlights of past collaborations include Encuentros, featuring a commissioned work by innovative Cuban composer Jorge Amado Molina and other voices from across the Cuban diaspora; (Im) migration: Music of Change, a collaboration with Imani Winds; and CQ Minute, a commissioning project of 10 miniature string quartets in commemoration of the quartet’s 10th anniversary with works by Andy Akiho, Kishi Bashi, Billy Childs, Paquito D’Rivera, Tania León, Jessie Montgomery, Kevin Puts, Caroline Shaw, Joan Tower, and two young composers selected from a national call for scores. Bassline Fabulous with maximalist performance artist Machine Dazzle, a theatrical realization of the quartet’s singular arrangement of Bach’s Goldberg Variations. The Catalyst Quartet’s largest ongoing project, UNCOVERED, is a multi-volume set of albums on Azica Records that celebrates composers of color whose works have been overlooked by the traditional canon. Volume 1, released in February 2021, includes the string quartet and quintets of Samuel Coleridge-Taylor with clarinetist Anthony McGill and pianist Stewart Goodyear. Volume 2 features works by Florence B. Price, and Volume 3 features ColeridgeTaylor, Perkinson, William Grant Still, and George Walker.

The Catalyst Quartet’s recordings span the ensemble’s scope of interests and artistry. Its debut album, The Bach/Gould Project, features the quartet’s own collaborative arrangement of J.S. Bach’s monumental Goldberg Variations, the first-ever four-voiced version of the piece, paired with Glenn Gould’s rarely

“Like all great chamber groups, the Catalyst Quartet is beautiful to watch, like a family in lively conversation at the dinner table: anticipating, interrupting, changing subjects.”

– The New York Times

heard String Quartet Op. 1. The ensemble can also be heard on Strum (Azica 2015), the solo debut album of composer Jessie Montgomery, who was a member violinist from 2012-2020; Bandoneón y Cuerdas (Progressive Sounds 2017), tangoinspired music for string quartet and bandoneón by JP Jofre; and Dreams and Daggers (Mack Avenue Records 2017), a two-CD Grammy-winning album with Cécile McLorin Salvant.

The Catalyst Quartet combines a serious commitment to diversity and education with a passion for contemporary works. The ensemble has served as principal faculty at the Sphinx Performance Academy at the Cleveland Institute of Music and Curtis Institute of Music, as well as the ENCORE institute and Ascent International Music Festival. The Catalyst Quartet’s ongoing residencies include interactive performance presentations and workshops with Native American student composers at the Grand Canyon Music Festival. Past residencies have included concerts and masterclasses at The University of Michigan, University Of Washington, Rice University’s Shepard School of Music, Houston’s Society for the Performing Arts, Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, The Virginia Arts Festival, and Pennsylvania State University, and internationally at the In Harmony Project in England, The University of South Africa, and The Teatro De Bellas Artes in Cali, Colombia. The ensemble’s residency in Havana, Cuba for the Cuban American Youth Orchestra in January 2019 was the first by an American string quartet since the revolution.

The Catalyst Quartet members hold degrees from The Cleveland Institute of Music, Curtis Institute of Music, The Juilliard School, and New England Conservatory.

SINFONIA STRING QUARTET IN RESIDENCE

Founded in Tallahassee, Florida, Carriola Quartet is a dynamic and evolving ensemble. This quartet features violinists Emily Palmer and Nicole Vega, violist Catherine Yara, and cellist Thu Vo. With a passion for community engagement, Carriola Quartet has performed original, interactive concerts in public and private schools, college classes, and community spaces around the North Florida region.

The ensemble also performs often at Florida State University, where all four members are students pursuing master’s degrees in music performance.

Carriola Quartet is currently the String Quartet-in-Residence for Sinfonia Gulf Coast, and all members also perform regularly with the Tallahassee Symphony Orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Valdosta Symphony Orchestra, Panama City Symphony Orchestra, and other surrounding orchestras.

Their musical pursuits are vast and varied, covering a variety of genres.

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BIG BAND HOLIDAY

featuring Morgan James

Sunday, Dec. 8 | 10:30 AM

Henderson Beach Resort

Back by popular demand, Morgan James, a New York-based soul singer, songwriter, and Broadway star, is returning to the Sinfonia Gulf Coast stage to make our holidays bright. James has released five studio albums and toured across the globe, performing with her own band and renowned symphony orchestras. This festive performance will feature holiday favorites, Broadway tunes, standards from the American songbook and original songs from James’ album A Very Magnetic Christmas. Celebrate the holiday season with an intimate live music concert featuring the stunning, soulful vocals of Morgan James.

Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.

MORGAN JAMES

Let’s start with the voice, an instrument through which she can communicate anything. A gift bestowed upon her that she has expertly trained, meticulously nurtured, and passionately galvanized into action by an urgency to make real music. Next, the stories, and she has them in spades. They are full of truth and beauty, heartache and thoughtfulness. They reveal colors we weren’t expecting to see. They make us close our eyes and relate. And finally, the soul – the emotional and intellectual energy through which these parts are fueled. That special something that prompted The Wall Street Journal to herald her as “the most promising young vocalist to come along so far this century.”

That young vocalist is Morgan James. And Morgan James is a soul singer. One voice is all it takes. The right vocalist can make you fall in love at first listen, elicit tears, or bring you back to a different era altogether. A microphone and a stage remain the only necessities. That holds true for New York-based soul singer, songwriter, and Broadway actress Morgan James.

songwriters. After graduating from The Juilliard School with a classical music degree and performing in the original companies of five Broadway productions, James began writing and recording her own music. Meeting her mentor Berry Gordy, Jr. led to a record deal at Epic Records, where she recorded and released her solo album Hunter in 2014. In addition to her five studio albums, James recorded and released a full album cover of Joni Mitchell’s seminal Blue as well as The Beatles’ White Album to celebrate the 50th

“I feel like I am a part of the lineage of soul music. My guiding force throughout my creative process is ‘What would Aretha say? What would Otis say?’ It’s not a retro or throwback by any means. This music is me: classic elements, timeless melodies, and lyrics from my soul and experience. We need that right now. We need real music now more than ever.”

Morgan’s latest full album

Nobody’s Fool is a luminous love letter to ‘90s R&B, featuring nine new songs, and one cover of Jeff Buckley‘s Everybody Here Wants You; the release of which culminated in a 60 city U.S. tour with her band. The album is her third original soul album recorded at the world-class Memphis Magnetic Recording, along with Memphis Magnetic, and A Very Magnetic Christmas, both recorded live to analog tape.

James grew up listening to everyone from Joni Mitchell to Paul Simon to Prince to Aretha Franklin, cultivating an insatiable love for strong

anniversary. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Morgan and her husband, Doug Wamble, released two volumes of her fan favorite Quarantunes

James has cultivated a world of fans with her viral YouTube videos, and she loves connecting with them on social media and at her live shows. With viral sensation postmodern jukebox, and her own channel, Morgan has amassed more than 250 million views on YouTube, (and climbing). Over the last several years, she has established herself as a touring powerhouse, playing with her own band and symphony orchestras all over the world, allowing her to raise the funds to create her albums and make every decision from the ground up.

TOP 10 REASONS TO CRESCENDO!

Save the dates for the event extravaganza of the season supporting Sinfonia Gulf Coast

By Zandra Wolfgram

Cre·scen·do

(/krəˈSHenˌdō/)

Even the name is full of fun! It’s such an exciting word — it’s a noun, adverb, adjective and verb.

Cheers! With the celebratory signature cocktail by Skybar at the Edge, lauded winemakers pouring select vintages and spirit purveyors sharing samples of their tasty craft, it is easy to raise a glass to toast the delicious libations at Crescendo!

We’re seeing red … in the best of ways. This year’s theme is Paint the Town Red. Whether you choose elegant, edgy, classic or regal we can’t wait for you to dazzle us with your individual spin on this year’s “red hot” theme.

Let us entertain you! From can-can dancers and acrobatic aerialists to electric violins and New York cabaret stars, Crescendo! always surprises and delights. You’ll have to come back to see what’s shenanigans are in store for 2025.

The venue. The event will be held at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa, so it is sure to be a swank soiree. You had us at “ballroom.”

We’re starved! With the excitement of this extravaganza, we’ve already worked up quite an appetite. We love a proper Sunday luncheon served at linen clothed tables set with candles and creative decor.

Party prizes! The raffle, the silent auction of art, wine, jewels, excursions and more, plus the live auction of curated A-list travel getaways, you couldn’t possibly plan yourself. Win-win!

Treble Makers! As a member of the Treble Makers, you’re considered a VIP at Crescendo. Your $650 contribution will enable Sinfonia to continue to perform music with 3,500 elementary students throughout Okaloosa and Walton Counties, thanks to Link Up — Sinfonia’s collaborative partnership with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute of Music.

Gathering with gal pals and gents.

The perfect way to shake off the winter blues and usher in spring with the sizzle of Crescendo!

Local kids! Proceeds from Crescendo benefit Sinfonia and its music education programs, which include musicians/guest artists in schools, free orchestra concerts, bus transportation for students, Sinfonia Youth Orchestra program, Arts in Medicine initiative with Ascension Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast and Link Up.

SAVE THE DATES

Crescendo Kick-off Lunch is Thursday, Jan. 30 at Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits in Miramar Beach.

Vintner Dinners are Friday, February 28 at stunning homes and venues.

Crescendo! Main Event is Sunday, March 2 at Hilton Sandestin Beach. This event will sell out, so reserve your seat today at SinfoniaGulfCoast.org.

Knowing that you helped provide music education programs to over 3,500+ children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties this year! YOUR SUPPORT IS INSTRUMENTAL TO OUR SUCCESS!

As a Treble Maker, your contribution will enable Sinfonia Gulf Coast to continue to perform some of its more important music — music for our children. Since 2006, Sinfonia has impacted more than 220,000 school children in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

YOUR $650 CONTRIBUTION INCLUDES:

1 ticket to Crescendo! Kick Off Lunch on January 30, 2025 at Bijoux ($175 Value)

1 ticket to Crescendo! Main Event on March 2, 2025 ($225 Value)

Early VIP entrance to Crescendo! Main Event for Treble Makers only

Special invitation to JIMMY CHOO 2025 event

Special recognition at all Crescendo! events

Special VIP invitation to experience Link Up 2025 with all of the students on March 12, 2025. An event not available to the public

To make a donation to become a Treble Maker, simply contact info@sinfoniagulfcoast.org

The Grinch in Concert

Saturday, Dec. 14 | 7:30 PM

Destin-FWB Convention Center

Discover the Magic of the Mean One this holiday season. Bring the entire family to remember exactly why Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas has become an enduring classic celebration of the holiday spirit. Sinfonia Gulf Coast will perform James Horner’s beloved film score from Ron Howard’s award-winning film live as movie magic unfolds on the screen. Don’t miss this beloved tale of the Whos, the Grinch, and his furry sidekick, Max as they rediscover the true meaning of the season. This family friendly film in concert is bound to grow your heart three whole sizes, just like the Grinch, himself.

Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.

Bette Midler, Barbra Streisand, Dolly Parton, Tina Turner, Carole King, Aretha Franklin, Cher, and Adele are among the legendary female icons honored in this thrilling concert event that salutes the women and the songs that have defined popular music for over six decades. Join Sinfonia Gulf Coast, featuring vocalists Alex Getlin, Carole J. Bufford, and Jessica Hendy, in a tribute to these

Saturday,

iconic musicians with beloved tunes we all know and love. From radio to movies, from Broadway to television these ladies have done it all — and changed the world along the way. A trio of New York’s best voices will celebrate the stories these legends shared and the music they made including The Wind Beneath My Wings, Don’t Rain on My Parade, I Will Always Love You, Natural Woman, If I Could Turn Back Time, and more.

Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.

MEET THE CAST

BETTE BABS & BEYOND

Alex Getlin (Vocalist)

Alex Getlin is a New York-based singer and actress whose voice can “melt stone” (Ben Brantley, The New York Times).

Most recently she made her Carnegie Hall debut with Michael Feinstein in Hooray for Hollywood, as part of his Standard Time series. A native New Yorker, she has spent the last year performing around the country in concert tributes to Leonard Bernstein, Jerome Robbins, Elton John, Paul McCartney and Andrew Lloyd Webber with Spot-On Entertainment. She has appeared Off-Broadway in the company of Anything Can Happen in the Theatre – The Songs of Maury Yeston, after being hand-picked by Yeston to interpret his music. In June 2017, Getlin made her symphonic debut with the Pasadena Pops under the baton of Michael Feinstein in Broadway: The Golden Age where she starred alongside Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey.

In 2016, after graduating from Northwestern University with a degree in theater, Getlin was a featured soloist in Broadway Rising Stars at Town Hall. She made her professional singing debut at 17, in a solo cabaret show at The Regency Hotel in New York, presented by Mr. Feinstein. The New York Times called her “a confident, engaging young singer with a big voice,” and Broadway World hailed her as “a new and rare talent on the entertainment scene.” She will be seen this summer as Fiona in Shrek, the Musical, at the Berkshire Theatre Group’s Colonial Theatre, where she previously appeared in the company’s production of The Music Man. Television credits include CBS’ Shades of Blue and Netflix’s The Break with Michele Wolf

Carole Bufford (Vocalist)

Carole J. Bufford has become one of the most sought after young performers in the New York cabaret & jazz scene and in 2020 was awarded the prestigious American Traditions Vocal Competition Gold Medal. Her recent shows, Speak Easy, (featuring the Grammy Award-winning Vince Giordano & The Nighthawks) and Body & Soul earned her rave reviews across the board, including The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal. Carole is the recipient of a Nightlife, Bistro and BroadwayWorld Award for Outstanding Vocalist.

She has traveled all over the US and recently made her London Debut to great critical acclaim. She was featured in Michael Feinstein’s Great American Songbook series at Jazz @ Lincoln Center and has been spotlighted in numerous Broadway By The Year concerts at NY’s The Town Hall and in California. Carole starred in Scott Siegel’s 11 O’Clock Numbers at 11 O’Clock at Feinstein’s at The Loew’s Regency along with Christina Bianco and Scott Coulter for an incredible eight-month run, one of the longest in Feinstein’s history. Carole originally hails from Lincolnton, GA where she grew up on healthy doses of Liza Minnelli, Judy Garland, Patsy Cline, Dinah Washington, & Bessie Smith. She attended Ithaca College where she majored in Musical Theater. She is a firm believer in honoring, celebrating, & teaching the Great American Songbook, both material written yesterday and today. She’d also like someone playing a nasty slide trombone to follow her around punctuating her daily activities.

Jessica Hendy (Vocalist)

Jessica Hendy is widely recognized as one of Broadway’s best belters. She played the role of Grizabella in Cats in both the original Broadway run and the 2016 revival cast, becoming the only person in history to have appeared in both Broadway incarnations of that smash hit musical. Other Broadway credits include Aida (Amneris), and Amour. She has toured Nationally and in Canada in Cats (Grizabella) and Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (Narrator).

She is a Drama Desk Award nominee and winner of the Off-Broadway Alliance Award for her one-woman musical Walking With Bubbles which had its world premiere in New York City earlier this year. She received rave reviews for her one-woman cabaret, A Life To Call Your Own, and a Bistro Award for the revue Get Your Tickets Now. NYC Pre-Broadway workshops include Dance of the Vampires, Aida, and The Molly Maguires. She played Diana Goodman in the regional premier of the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Next to Normal, at The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati. She has had the pleasure to work at many theatres around the country including Pittsburgh CLO and North Shore Music Theatre in Miss Saigon (Ellen), and Helen Hayes Perf Arts Center in Songs For A New World with Jason Robert Brown.

Hendy’s performance as Jeanne in The Great American Trailer Park Musical at The Ensemble Theatre of Cincinnati earned her an ACCLAIM Award for Best Actress. A proud graduate of the University of Cincinnati CollegeConservatory of Music, she regularly appears with symphonic orchestras around the world in a variety of concerts including Music of the Knights, Rock ‘N Radio and Blockbuster Broadway!

John Fischer (Pianist)

John Fischer has been a music director and pianist in New York city for more than 20 years. This will be his 13th year as music director for Broadway’s Rising Stars at the famed Town Hall NY, where he also worked on numerous Broadway Originals concerts. He made his Lincoln Center debut this year, music directing for the current Tony Award winner, Ali Stroker, in her soldout American Songbook concert. He spent seven seasons as music director for the highly acclaimed musical theatre program at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in the Berkshires. His last season saw him working hand in hand with Stephen Schwartz and Chet Walker on the creation of a new ballet, The Boy on the Roof.

This past year has taken Fischer to the symphony world as a guest artist with the Santa Ana Symphony Orchestra in Music of the Knights, and the Signature Symphony in Tulsa for a Bernstein/Robbins celebration. In New York, he is a regular fixture at Feinstein’s/54 Below, music directing everything from Sondheim to Sinatra. Recent highlights include Alice Ripley and Emily Skinner’s sold-out run of Unattached, and the 25th Anniversary concert of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, part of the award-winning 54 Sings series for which he also music directed Applause, Mack & Mabel and Kiss of the Spider Woman

Other New York credits include pianist for the previous Broadway revival of West Side Story, pianist/conductor for Talk of the Town at Bank Street Theatre, Take Me Along at Irish Rep, Naked Boys Singing at New World Stages, and much more. Fischer has been on staff at Applause NY, The Growing Studio, AMDA, HB Studios, The New School and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute.

Weekdays 6-10am

Howard Levy, harmonica + piano

FRIDAY, APRIL 4, 2025 | 7:30 PM

Destin High School

Prepare to be awed by the talents of Howard Levy, two-time Grammy awardwinning pianist, diatonic harmonica player, and composer at the Classical Connections concert at Destin High School. By developing new techniques on the harmonica, Levy has transformed the instrument in its usage, making it multifaceted among all genres of music. He has released two albums and a classical CD featuring his own composition, Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica and Orchestra, the first true concerto of its kind, which Sinfonia Gulf Coast premiered (U.S. Southeast) in 2009. Levy is a performer, composer, and educator whose technique book, Rhythms of the Breath has revolutionized the playing of the harmonica across the world.

SCAN HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.

HOWARD LEVY

Howard Levy, two-time Grammy Award winner (Pop Music Performance and Instrumental Composition) is an acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica, a superb pianist, innovative composer, educator and producer. At the age of 19, he discovered how to play the diatonic harmonica as a fully chromatic instrument by developing techniques on it that had never existed before. This enabled Howard to take the harmonica out of its usual role as a Folk and Blues instrument, and into the worlds of Jazz, Classical, Middle Eastern music, and more. His discovery unlocked infinite possibilities for the harmonica world.

At home in many musical styles, he is a favorite with audiences worldwide and a recording artist sought after by Kenny Loggins, Dolly Parton, Paquito D’Rivera, Styx, Donald Fagen, Paul Simon, and many others. Howard has appeared on hundreds of CD’s and several movie soundtracks, most prominently on A Family Thing with Robert Duval and James Earl Jones.

His solo album Alone and Together (Balkan Samba Records) and his trio album Tonight and Tomorrow (Chicago Sessions) both received 4-star reviews in DownBeat. Levy also put out a classical CD featuring his Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica

“Levy has single-handedly revolutionized the harmonica...” — NPR

and Orchestra — the first true concerto composed for the instrument. In 2009, Sinfonia Gulf Coast presented the U.S. Southeast premier of this piece.

As an educator, Levy has taught at leading universities and conservatories, and online for TrueFire/ArtistWorks. His revolutionary technique book Rhythms of the Breath is the first of its kind to apply drum rudiments to the harmonica, influencing players around the world.

Levy tours as a solo artist, with Trio Globo, Bela Fleck and the Flecktones, and his new band, The Howard Levy 4.

“As Art Tatum was to the piano, so is Levy to the harmonica: a hyper-virtuoso whose feats can be admired and studied but never really replicated.” — Chicago Tribune

MISSION

Sinfonia Gulf Coast Youth Orchestras’ mission is to provide the highest quality youth orchestra experience to students living in Northwest Florida. The orchestra program strives to create a culture of community, collaboration, and cultivation by ensuring that each member has an empowering musical experience through participation in the orchestras.

The Sinfonia Youth Orchestra program is the premier training orchestra in Northwest Florida and consists of students who participate in a variety of ensembles that perform throughout the school year, led by Music Director Margaret Gordon.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 30, 2025

Bijoux Restaurant + Spirits

Enjoy an incredible lunch, sip elegant wines and indulge in delectable desserts, all of the musthave accessories of the season from The Jewel, door prizes, raffle items, plus more.

$175/person

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 28, 2025

Intimate dinners in stunning homes and venues with a private chef & world class wines. Limited tickets available $1,000/couple; $500/person

SUNDAY, MARCH 2, 2025

Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa

Join us for world-class vintners, delectable bites, a seated lunch, expert spirit purveyors, amazing auction items and live music.

$225/person

CRESCENDO!

LINDSEY KATE

Lindsey Kate is an international Fashion Illustrator who creates custom commissioned projects for individuals and brands, in addition to illustrating live for events. Some of her renowned clients include Jimmy Choo, Salvatore Ferragamo, Escada, Ted Baker London, LoveShackFancy, Alice + Olivia, the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Four Seasons Hotel & Spa, Bloomingdale’s, Dillard’s, Nordstrom, Shutz, Hugo Boss, Nic + Zoe, Vionic, Le Chateau, Hamilton Jewelers, LaCroix, and L’Oreal.

Constantly exploring new techniques and media, she tailors the style of every project to fit the unique need of each client. Lindsey Kate aims to capture the elegance, beauty, and confidence of the human form in her creations. Finding inspiration within historic illustration, nature, and modern art as well as having a proficient understanding of color theory, textiles, construction, fit, and concept design allows her to successfully illustrate

technically accurate designs as well as representational creative fashion figures.

A few of Kate’s favorite things include bridal illustration and creative work for publications and advertisements; however, she has created projects for personal shoppers, stylists, online retailers, patternmakers, as well as fashion and accessory designers. She’s had her work published in a variety of magazines, and even illustrated the cover of a published book about fashion. She also creates accessories, paintings, and logos upon special request. She would love to hear your next idea for utilizing fashion illustration!

Photo Credit: HoughtonPhotography.com

Tchaikovsky X Drake

Saturday, May 17, 2025 | 7:30 PM

Destin-FWB Convention Center

Experience the electrifying fusion of Drake and Tchaikovsky in an unforgettable performance that will “redefine” the symphony experience. Conceived and arranged by Steven Hackman, known for his imaginative and unexpected pairings, this piece masterfully blends the timeless compositions of Pytor Ilyich Tchaikovsky with the contemporary sounds of hip hop rapper Aubrey (Drake) Graham, redefining the boundaries of music in the 21st century. As a conservatory-trained conductor, composer, and pianist, and with a professional career as a producer, songwriter, and DJ, Hackman has captivated audiences worldwide with his symphonic fusion programs. Get ready to be amazed by the unexpected dynamic music duo: Tchaikovsky X Drake SCAN HERE TO BUY TICKETS

Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.

STEVE HACKMAN’S TCHAIKOVSKY X DRAKE

A FUSE PRODUCTION

STEVE HACKMAN

Conductor & Creator

JECOREY ARTHUR Rapper

INDIA CARNEY

Vocalist

MALIA CIVETZ

Vocalist

TCHAIKOVSKY Symphony No. 5 (1888)

DRAKE Various Works (2010-2020)

Movement I

Started From the Bottom

Back to Back

Headlines

Over My Dead Body

Over

Worst Behavior

God’s Plan

5 AM in Toronto

Piano Cadenza

MARIO JOSE Vocalist

BRAYLON LACY Bassist

TARON LOCKETT Drummer

Interlude I

Controlla

Hold On, We’re Going Home

Movement II Marvin’s Room

Energy

All Me HYFR

Interlude II

In My Feelings

One Dance Take Care

Movement IV Nice For What

Find Your Love Jumpan

CONDUCTOR & CREATOR

STEVE HACKMAN

A multi-hyphenate music powerhouse, Steve Hackman is a bold and visionary voice, leading a new generation of classical musicians intent on redefining the genre. Equally skilled in both classical and popular music, Hackman is a composer, conductor, producer, DJ, arranger, songwriter, singer, and pianist. His remarkable musical versatility allows him to create groundbreaking fusions that blur the lines between high and popular art.

Hackman synthesizes Brahms with Radiohead, Bartok with Björk, and Beethoven with Coldplay, creating orchestral tone poems. He re-imagines Stravinsky and Shostakovich into orchestral-electronic concept albums and incorporates Verdi and Debussy into hip-hop tracks. His performances have captivated and delighted audiences across the country, with sellout shows featuring major orchestras including San Francisco, San Diego, Seattle, Pittsburgh, Colorado, Phoenix, Nashville, Oregon, Indianapolis, and the Boston Pops.

In fall 2021, Hackman composed the 60-minute ballet AT WORK in collaboration with Jacob Jonas the Company. The piece premiered in Los Angeles at Century City Park and the Water Gardens. This was a milestone in a busy two-year period during which Hackman composed five original scores for the global initiative Films. dance, collaborating with Hilary Hahn, Dave Koz, Voces 8, and musicians from the Philadelphia Orchestra. His music also featured in the American Express Stand For Small campaign, narrated by Lin-Manuel

Miranda, and he recorded a solo piano album in summer 2021. Hackman has teamed up with leading pop superstars, adding a unique classical touch to their work. He frequently collaborates with Doja Cat, performing with her at the 2021 VMA’s in Brooklyn and arranging strings for her performances at the Billboard Music Awards and iHeart Radio Music Awards.

In December 2019, Hackman worked with Kanye West, the Sunday Service Choir, and Access Opera on the production of Mary, an opera in which Hackman served as composer, conductor, and orchestrator. The production had performances at Art Basel in Miami and Lincoln Center in New York.

Hackman is the conductor and curator of BSO Fusion with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, presenting several fusion concerts annually. He also serves as creative director and conductor of the Indianapolis Symphony’s Uncharted Series, one of the country’s most successful millennial-focused concert experiences. He has played a pivotal role in developing this series since 2010, including the premiere of his Resurrection Mixtape, a fusion of Mahler’s 2nd Symphony with music by Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G.

In September 2019, Hackman recorded a seventy-piece orchestra of LA’s top studio musicians at Eastwood Soundstage on the Warner Brothers lot for his project Stereo Hideout. These recordings are featured on the album The Revival. Earlier in 2019, Hackman debuted Igor Damn Stravinsky, a fusion of Stravinsky’s Petrushka and Kendrick Lamar’s Damn. He also premiered The Times They Are A-Changin’, a choral re-imagining of Bob Dylan’s work with the Mendelssohn Choir of Pittsburgh. Commissioned by six choirs, the piece premiered with the Nashville Symphony in January 2020.

Hackman studied at Juilliard and the Curtis Institute, receiving an advanced diploma in conducting. He holds an undergraduate degree in piano performance from the University of Illinois, where he studied with Gustavo Romero.

Lightwire Theater’s Dino Light

October 5

Grand Boulevard | North Park

Free and open to the public, Lightwire Theater’s Dino Light tells the story of a famous scientist with magic powers who brings a friendly dinosaur to life using electroluminescent artistry and poignant storytelling. Dino Light is sponsored by Grand Boulevard’s Coastal Culture Art, Entertainment and Events.

The Nutcracker

November 22-24

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

In its 45th year, NFB’s version of this classic holiday fairytale is the only full-length version in the area and includes a cast of international guest artists and more than 140 local children with live music by the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra led by NFB Music Director & Conductor David Ott.

Cinderella

March 8-9

Mattie Kelly Arts Center

Cinderella brings to life a cavalcade of enchanting characters, brilliant dancing, vibrant costumes and a magical set sure to hold you under its spell. This timeless classic also includes live music by the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra led by NFB Music Director & Conductor David Ott.

SINFONIA WOODWIND QUINTET IN RESIDENCE

The award-winning Fountain Five Wind Quintet is primarily based in Tallahassee, Florida, and has been actively performing since 2021. As passionate advocates for new music, the quintet has been involved in premiers of commissioned works, and frequently programs new and underperformed pieces in addition to the traditional wind quintet repertoire.

The Fountain Five aims to further the accessibility of chamber music through frequent performances in addition to educational outreach engagements. Notably, the group has served as the Quintet in Residence for Sinfonia Gulf Coast since the Fall of 2023.

A primary goal of the Fountain Five is to create exciting and engaging musical environments for audiences of any background in any venue. To achieve this, many of the ensemble’s programs blend traditional wind quintet repertoire with contemporary and underperformed works.

Other notable achievements include winning first prize in the ensemble division of the 2023 Music International Grand Prix, and giving a tour through several universities in North Dakota and Minnesota in 2024.