Sinfonia Celebrates a Decade of Remarkable Music

What do you do after you’ve, say, done Broadway and won a Tony or a Grammy? Apparently, you perform with Sinfonia Gulf Coast. Over the last 10 years, Sinfonia musicians have shared the stage with legendary talent the likes of Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone. And keeping with the nonprofit’s tradition of “symphony redefined,” Sinfonia's 10th Anniversary Gala Event will feature the incomparable star of stage, screen and TV, Kristin Chenoweth.

“I can’t help but be thrilled that we have the opportunity to present Kristin Chenoweth. She is a remarkable artist and we are fortunate that Sinfonia Gulf Coast will be her Northwest Florida debut,” says Founder and Music Director Demetrius Fuller.

During its first ten years, Sinfonia has laid the foundation as Northwest Florida’s premier symphony orchestra, featuring world class guest artists and the top professional musicians in the region. The list of past notable guest artists is gargantuan. (You know, I've always liked that word... 'gargantuan'... so rarely have an opportunity to use it in a sentence.)

“Every performance presents its own artistic challenges, but overall, I think that it remains a challenge to consistently present the high quality concerts and events that Sinfonia does. We are very fortunate to have amazing professional musicians and the highest caliber guest artists work with us,” says Demetrius.
 

We’re talking Broadway legends Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone; R&B icon Roberta Flack, Mary Wilson of the Supremes; Chris Brubeck; the Sao Paulo String Quartet; classical-crossover sensation Time for Three; Manhattan Piano Trio; Epic recording artist Morgan James; Tony Award-winning vocalists Cheyenne Jackson, Gary Mauer and Debbie Gravitte; Grammy-nominated violinist Caroline Goulding; Grammy-Award winners John Pizzarelli, Howard Levy, Tracy Silverman, the Parker Quartet, New York Voices, The von Trapps and iconic big band Pink Martini.

“I always enjoy hearing which concerts are a patron’s most memorable, however my most memorable performance was our Gala that featured Roberta Flack," says Demetrius. "Besides being an icon in the music industry, she was a true joy to work with and such an inspiring musician. Doesn’t get any more real than her!”

When he’s not performing with Grammy and Tony Award winning artists, Demetrius travels the world to bring innovative programming to our area. Throughout his career, Demetrius has been invited to conduct the l’Orchestre Nationale de France (Paris) and the Iraqi National Symphony in a groundbreaking Unity Academy in Erbil, Northern Iraq. He has been at the helm of premieres, such as “Seeing is Believing” and “Brothers in Arts: Seventy Years of Liberty.” Recently, he attended a fundraiser in Napa where Kevin Spacey was the entertainment. (Which begs the question, “Is there anything Kevin Spacey can’t do?”) 
 

Conductor and music and artistic director, Demetrius Fuller
 

After 10 years of making music and bringing remarkable guest artists to the stage, Sinfonia’s vision of the next 10 years stems from home.

“Sinfonia’s next ten years will be a continuance of the foundation that we have set in both our live concert event arena, featuring world class guest artists and the top professional musicians in the region, as well as our commitment to music education by supporting a youth orchestra, free programs for the students of Okaloosa and Walton Counties, and our partnerships with Carnegie Hall’s LINK UP project, our Arts in Medicine initiative with Sacred Heart Hospital and our Paint the Music project with Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation’s All Kinds of Art. Sinfonia will grow and expand to continue to serve the needs of our community,” says Demetrius.
 

SoWal.com is a proud Presenting E-media Sponsor for Sinfonia's 10th anniversary season. For more information or to purchase tickets, please visit SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 850-460-8800. Stay social at Facebook.com/SinfoniaGulfCoast.

Congratulations and many thanks to Sinfonia Gulf Coast on a decade of innovation, education and inspiration. Cheers to remarkable music on the Emerald Coast of Florida.