Sinfonia Gulf Coast's 20th Season Schedule Showcases Diverse Talent

Sinfonia Gulf Coast has an excellent schedule of music for all ages for the 2025-2026 season! Purchase tickets at www.sinfoniagulfcoast.org.

Sinfonia Gulf Coast was founded in 2005 on Florida’s Northwest Gulf Coast with the mission of redefining the symphony experience. Under the guidance of founder and Music Director Demetrius Fuller and a dedicated board of directors, the nonprofit orchestra is dedicated to curating innovative musical programming, designed to entertain, educate and inspire the community.

Notable guest artists have included: Tony- and Emmy-winning star Kristin Chenoweth; Broadway legends Bernadette Peters and Patti LuPone; R&B icon Roberta Flack, Mary Wilson of the Supremes; composer and performer Chris Brubeck; music narrator Jamie Bernstein, the Sao Paulo String Quartet; classical-crossover sensation Time for Three; The Hot Sardines; 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.

Since its founding, Sinfonia Gulf Coast has presented more than 700 concerts and events that have reached over 500,000 patrons, has collaborated with numerous nonprofits and businesses throughout the community and has reached more than 200,000 children through its Sinfonia Guest Artists in the Schools program/music education outreach initiatives.

Local community partnerships have included collaborations with Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation, through the “Paint the Music” program and free orchestra concerts for third through eighth graders; the Northwest Florida Ballet; the Cultural Arts Alliance of Walton County; and the Okaloosa Arts Alliance.

Sinfonia Gala Event:
An Evening with the Legendary Chaka Khan

November 14, 2025 at 6 PM
Hotel Effie, Juniper Ballroom Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Celebrate Sinfonia's 20th Anniversary in style and experience the legendary voice of Chaka Khan, the undisputed Queen of Funk, live in concert at Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Gala Event.

With a career spanning more than five decades, Chaka has delivered unforgettable hits such as I’m Every Woman, Ain’t Nobody, Tell Me Something Good, and I Feel for You. Her powerhouse performance will ignite the stage with funk, R&B, and soul in a dazzling evening that celebrates the primal power of music to move and inspire.

The evening includes valet, reception, dinner and live performance.

Toast ’n Jam: Broadway Holiday the “Calla-way”
Sunday, Dec. 7 I 10:30 a.m. 
Hotel Effie Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Enjoy a sparkling Sunday brunch concert with Broadway sisters Ann Hampton Callaway and Liz Callaway as they bring their acclaimed show to Destin. This celebrated cabaret performance blends their extraordinary voices in a joyful celebration of sisterhood, music, and memories. From Broadway classics to pop standards, the Callaways deliver dazzling harmonies, heartfelt storytelling, and delightful humor in a show that has wowed audiences from New York to London.
Tickets are from $135 per person, which includes valet service, the live performance, brunch, and gratuities. Limited front-row seating is available for $195 per person. Seating is limited, so early purchase is recommended.
Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.

Holiday Pops Spectacular

Saturday, Dec. 13 I 7:30 PM
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center

Celebrate the season with Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s Holiday Pops Spectacular! This festive concert features full orchestra, vocalists and everything from timeless favorites like Winter Wonderland to chart-topping hits such as Christmas (Baby, Please Come Home), radio hits like Mariah Carey's All I Want for Christmas is You, along with beloved holiday songs from Broadway and film like It’s Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas.

Whether you love show tunes, rock classics, or traditional holiday cheer, this magical musical experience has something for everyone—and promises to leave a familiar melody in your heart.

Tickets $40-$69.50.

SIMPLY THE BEST: THE MUSIC OF TINA TURNER

Thursday, January 8, 2025 at 7:30 PM

Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center

Get ready to celebrate the unstoppable Queen of Rock ’n’ Roll in Simply the Best: The Music of Tina Turner. Sinfonia Gulf Coast pays tribute to Tina’s electrifying career with powerhouse vocalists delivering her greatest hits live. From Proud Mary and What’s Love Got to Do With It, to Private Dancer and Simply the Best, this unforgettable evening will honor the music, passion, and legacy of one of the most iconic performers of all time.

Tickets $45-$75.

Classical Connections: Howard Levy, Harmonica + Piano

Saturday, Feb. 7 I 7:30 p.m.

Destin High School Destin, Fl

Prepare to be awed by the talents of Howard Levy, two-time Grammy award-winning 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 usage of the instrument, making it multi-faceted among all genres of music. Levy has released 20 albums under his own name, capturing his versatility and innovation as a musician and composer. His solo album Alone and Together (Balkan Samba Records) and his trio album Tonight and Tomorrow (Chicago Sessions) both received four-star reviews in DownBeat Magazine. Levy also released a classical CD featuring his Concerto for Diatonic Harmonica and Orchestra - the first true concerto composed for the instrument, 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.  

Additional repertoire to be announced.

Tickets $35 per person.

Toast ’n Jam: Sincerely, Sondheim with Nicholas Rodriguez
Sunday, Feb. 14 I 10:30 a.m. 
Hotel Effie Sandestin Golf and Beach Resort

Celebrate Valentine’s Day in unforgettable style with Broadway star Nicholas Rodriguez, direct from the Tony Award–winning revival of Company and the national tour of The Sound of Music. In his brand-new concert Sincerely, Sondheim, Rodriguez draws from the composer’s handwritten letters to share stories and insights into his friendships with Oscar Hammerstein II, Jerry Herman, Jonathan Larson, Lin-Manuel Miranda, and more. With his soaring voice and charismatic stage presence, Rodriguez brings to life beloved selections from Company, Sunday in the Park with George, Into the Woods, and other Sondheim classics.
Tickets are from $135 per person, which includes valet service, the live performance, brunch, and gratuities. Limited front-row seating is available for $195 per person. Seating is limited, so early purchase is recommended.
Proceeds benefit Sinfonia Gulf Coast and its music education and community engagement initiatives throughout Northwest Florida.

JAWS in Concert
Friday, May 15, 2026 at 7:30 PM
Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center

Just when you thought it was safe to go back in the concert hall….Experience Academy Award winning director Steven Spielberg’s classic 1970s adventure thriller like never before. Jaws in Concert will keep you on the edge of your seat as Sinfonia Gulf Coast performs composer John Williams’ iconic Academy Award–winning score live, perfectly synced to the film projected in HD on the big screen. Relive the suspense, the terror, and the unforgettable music that forever changed the way we view the ocean. Now for the first time, audiences will have the chance to experience the power of a live symphony orchestra performing the entire score in sync with one of the greatest motion pictures of all time. In the words of Chief Brody, “You’re gonna need a bigger boat!”

Tickets $40-$69.50.