Crescendo! Sinfonia Event at Hilton Sandestin

Crescendo! is an exciting new cultural extravaganza to benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives. This energy-infused experience will celebrate the cultural and culinary arts by showcasing world-class vintners, expert spirit purveyors, amazing auction items, and an award-winning musical guest. Taking place Friday, Feb. 16th at 6pm & Sunday, Feb. 18th at 11:30am, this two-day event is one you will not want to miss!

Friday, Feb. 16: Beginning at 6 p.m. Crescendo! (formerly Wine Women & Shoes) will begin with a series of carefully curated Vintner Dinners hosted in elegant homes and venues throughout the Emerald Coast, which pair the talents of local and regional “celebrity” chefs with some of the country’s most acclaimed vineyards for a delicious evening of food and wine. 

Some of the country’s best vineyards including Aloft, Blackbird, Charles Krug, Calluna, Dunstan, Mario Perelli-Minetti, Sanglier Cellars, and Tournesol will be pouring wines. Culinary maestros include top chefs from the Gulf Coast region including: Nikhil Abuvala, Orion Cordoves, Chris Holbrook, Jack McGuckin, Brendan Spavey, and Wesley True.

Vintner Dinner tickets are $275 per person and include all food, wine and gratuities. Go to sinfoniagulfcoast.org for a list of the Vintner Dinner venues.The Sinfonia team will call each patron to confirm which dinner they would prefer to attend following confirmation of their order.

Sunday, Feb. 18th:  Crescendo! 2018 MAIN EVENT - presented by Dr. Michael Stickler of Dermatology Specialists of Florida/Aqua Medical Spa, is themed “an Audrey Hepburn-inspired affair” and is set for Sunday, Feb. 18 at 11:30 a.m. in the Coastal Ballroom at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa in Miramar Beach. This energy-infused event experience will celebrate the cultural and culinary arts by showcasing world-class vintners, expert spirit purveyors, amazing auction items and an award-winning musical guest. Enjoy reserved table seating, hors d'oeuvres, a full, seated lunch and an all-inclusive afternoon of incredible fun.

A highlight of the main event is a live cabaret performance by special musical guest Nicholas Rodriguez, an award-winning actor (played Nick Chavez on ABC’s “One Live to Live”) who appeared in “Sex and the City 2,” on Broadway, off-Broadway and in international tours of musicals and most recently starred opposite Kathleen Turner in “Mother Courage and her Children” at the Arena Stage in Washington D.C.

One of the most-anticipated moments will be the live auction of high-end lots of reserve wine, artful excursions, luxury travel trips and more.

Guests of Crescendo! also can enter to win a Paris Boutique Shopping Experience, which includes a five-night stay for two at the elegant, 5-star Renaissance Paris Le Par Trocadero Hotel, located near the Champs Elysees, the Eiffel Tower and the Paris Congress Center; a private, guided shopping tour, an exclusive wine pairing dinner at O’Chateau Wine Bar & Restaurant (located just a stroll from the Louvre!) and more.

An homage to all things Audrey Hepburn, guests will be treated to a “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”-themed closet brimming with “Tiffany boxes” filled with delightful prizes ($50 minimum value); along with photo booths, beauty bars and other fanciful fun celebrating Ms. Hepburn’s classic cinematic turns in “My Fair Lady,” “Funny Face,” Sabrina,” “Roman Holiday” and more.

Tickets to Crescendo! 2018 are $100 per person and include all food, wine, reserved table seating and valet parking. Tables of 10 may be reserved by calling (850) 460-8800.

By definition crescendo is a noun that refers to an increase in loudness within a piece of music. It also is a verb that means an elevated level of intensity. “I’m thrilled with the name we landed on for this event, because not only does it fully embrace the spirit of the event experience we were trying to capture, but it also is an apt description of what we are endeavoring to do with our music outreach efforts,” said Demetrius Fuller, music and artistic director for Sinfonia Gulf Coast.

Make it a weekend at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa! Crescendo attendees receive a special rate of only $129 a night when you book using code SGC. You must book by this Friday, February 2nd to receive the special rate! Call 850-267-9500 to book your room now! 

Crescendo! replaces Wine Women & Shoes and going forward will be Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s signature annual fundraising event. Proceeds from Crescendo! will 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 Sacred Heart Hospital and LINK UP concerts for third through fifth graders in partnership with Carnegie Hall.

Crescendo! 2018 events are made possible by the generous support of local businesses including the following co-presenting sponsors: Dermatology Specialists of Florida/Aqua Medical Spa, Krueger, Fosdyck & Associates of Merrill Lynch, The Center for Cosmetic & Family Dentistry, Silver Sands Premium Outlets, Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa and Visit South Walton.

For more information on how you can join Sinfonia’s team of volunteers, contact Elaine Tucker at (850) 460-8800 andetucker@sinfoniagulfcoast.org.

As the region’s only fully professional symphony orchestra, Sinfonia Gulf Coast is committed to presenting high-caliber events and providing much-needed educational initiatives throughout the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast region. Proceeds from the all events benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast 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 with Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, LINK UP concerts with third through fifth grades in participation with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute of Music, the annual Paint the Music Project and more.

For more information or to purchase tickets, go to SinfoniaGulfCoast.org and call (850) 460-8800. Email questions to info@sinfoniagulfcoast.org. For information on volunteer opportunities, contact Elaine Tucker at (850) 460-8800 or email ETucker@SinfoniaGulfCoast.org.

SoWal.com is a proud Presenting E-media Sponsor for Sinfonia's 12th season. Stay social for updates on upcoming concerts and special events all season long on Facebook: Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Find Sinfonia on Instagram and Twitter too. Join us and be a part of the conversation using #SinfoniaGulfCoast.