Sinfonia Celebrates 10 Years With Spectacular 2015-2016 Season

Keeping the tempo on the Emerald Coast’s cultural scene since its founding in 2005, Sinfonia Gulf Coast will mark its milestone 10th season as the region’s only fully-professional symphony orchestra by offering a stellar lineup of concerts and educational initiatives featuring the orchestra, world-renowned guest artists and a 10th anniversary gala event headlined by an Emmy and Tony Award-winning singer and actress.

Maintaining the nonprofit’s tradition of “symphony redefined,” the Sinfonia 10th Anniversary Gala Event, to be held on Friday, Nov. 13 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center, will feature the incomparable star of stage, screen and TV, Kristin Chenoweth. Winner of the 2009 Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series for her work on the ABC series “Pushing Daisies,” and a 2010 and 2011 Emmy and a 2011 People’s Choice Award nominee for her role as the quirky former songstress April Rhodes on Fox’s hit comedy, “Glee,” Chenoweth has become a star in her own right on television. However, theater lovers may best remember her for her 2003 Tony Award-nominated origination of the role Glenda the Good Witch in “Wicked,” and 1999 Tony-winning performance in “You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown.

Sinfonia will likewise start its season on a high note on Thursday, Sept. 29 with an intimate cabaret-style performance by Nikki Yanofsky at Seagar’s Prime Steaks and Seafood at the Sandestin Hilton Beach. The event, the sixth in an annual series with Seagar’s, will feature a special wine dinner created by the award-winning restaurant’s executive chef, Dan Vargo, followed by Yanofsky’s performance. Yanofsky released her album “Little Secrets” last year, which was executive produced by entertainment legend Quincy Jones. She has topped both jazz and pop charts, and at the age of 20, her career highlights including performing a duet with Stevie Wonder, as well as collaborations with several other music-industry luminaries. With its continued commitment to education and supporting emerging guest artists, Sinfonia will present two winners of New York City’s Young Concert Artists, who were also awarded the related Sinfonia Gulf Coast Prize.

French clarinetist Raphaël Sévère, winner of the 2013 Sinfonia Gulf Coast Prize, will be the featured soloist performing W.A. Mozart’s “Concerto for Clarinet & Orchestra” during the Saturday, Nov. 7 Classical Connections concert at Grace Lutheran Church in Destin. Sévère, 22, who made his concerto debut at 11 years old with the Beijing Opera Orchestra, received a degree with highest honors from the Conservatoire national supérieur de Paris by age 19.

The 2012 Sinfonia Gulf Coast Prize winner, vocalist Julia Bullock, will take the Sinfonia stage on Friday, Jan. 29 at Destiny Worship Center, performing in “Made in America” featuring selections by George Gershwin, Josephine Baker and Leonard Bernstein.

Bullock was the winner of the 2014 Naumburg International Vocal Competition and recipient of a 2015 Leonore Annenberg Arts Fellowship, the 2015 Richard F. Gold Grant from the Shoshana Foundation and Lincoln Center’s 2015 Martin E. Segal Award.

Sinfonia’s annual holiday concert on Friday, Dec. 11 at Destiny Worship Center, will feature orchestral arrangements of several seasonal classics and the return of Broadway singer and actress Morgan James.

James’ larger-than-life vocals will be the perfect pairing with the orchestra in this popular, family-friendly concert. After graduating from The Juilliard School, James enjoyed a successful stint on Broadway, where she was featured in “The Addams Family” with Nathan Lane and Bebe Neuwirth and Berry Gordy’s “Motown: The Musical.” Gordy also made an introduction to Doug Morris and L.A. Reid, which lead to her 2012 signing to Epic Records.

Jamie Bernstein will return on Friday, Jan. 29, 2016, to host two morning performances for Okaloosa and Walton County’s third through eighth grade students at Destiny Worship Center. The program, titled “Cowboys, Caballeros and Copland,” explores the music of American composer Aaron Copland, and will be presented in conjunction with the annual “Paint the Music” project, allowing students to visually interpret excerpts of music at the live Sinfonia performance. Bernstein will also join Sinfonia during the evening performance of “Made in America,” as featured narrator for Aaron Copland’s “Lincoln Portrait.” Additional works include Copland’s “El Salon Mexico” and “Four Dance Episodes from Rodeo,” as well as those featuring soprano Julia Bullock.

The annual Sinfonia chamber music weekend returns to the intimate setting of Rosemary Beach Town Hall on Friday, Feb. 12 and Saturday, Feb. 13, 2016, featuring the world-renowned Miró Quartet. Now in its 19th year, the Miró Quartet is consistently praised for its deeply musical interpretations, exciting performances and thoughtful programming.

Each season, the Miró Quartet performs throughout the world on the most prestigious concert stages and in several notable chamber music series, garnering accolades from critics and audiences alike.

 
The season comes to a festive finale on Friday, April 9, 2016, when Sinfonia lets the good times roll with the legendary Preservation Hall Jazz Band. This iconic New Orleans group, which was founded more than 50 years ago, will perform with Sinfonia’s orchestra at the Emerald Coast Convention Center in what promises to bring the 10th season to a sensational close, complete with a second line celebration.

Tickets will be available for purchase beginning July 1. Season tickets, which will feature preferred seating for all five concerts, will be $195 per person. Single tickets for the 10th Anniversary Gala will range from $49.50 to $500 each, and tables of 10 will be available for purchase. Tickets for the Seagar’s cabaret and wine dinner will be $225, each. All performances will begin at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of the Seagar’s cabaret, which will begin at 5:30 p.m., and the gala, which will begin at 8 p.m. Visit Sinfonia Gulf Coast online for ticket information.

Presenting Sponsor for the 2015-2016 tenth anniversary season is Merrill Lynch Wealth Management. Co-presenting and Presenting Media Sponsor is VIE Magazine. Presenting Concert Sponsor for the 2015-2016 season is La Florida Real Estate. Additional presenting sponsors include VIE Magazine, Presenting Media Sponsor; SoWal.com, Presenting E-media Sponsor; and Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort and Spa and ResortQuest, Presenting Accommodations Sponsors. For more information or to purchase tickets, please go to www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 850-269-7129.