Sinfonia Receives Funding From St. Joe Community Foundation

The Board of Trustees of The St. Joe Community Foundation announced a grant of $10,000 to Sinfonia Gulf Coast in recognition and support of the non-profit symphony orchestra’s performance and education programs for the upcoming 2013-2014 season.

The St. Joe Community Foundation is dedicated to the ongoing improvement of quality of life for the people who live, work, and play in Northwest Florida. “The St. Joe Community Foundation is investing in the future of the region,” states Foundation Executive Assistant Janet Greeno. “It is our desire to create a legacy of value for each of the many special communities in this wonderful region.”

“The Foundation’s grant will enable Sinfonia to continue to bring the highest quality music education initiatives to our diverse and growing region and we appreciate The St. Joe Community Foundation’s commitment to our community,” stated Music & Artistic Director Demetrius Fuller. Specifically, the grant will support Sinfonia musicians visits to local schools, school performances featuring award-winning guest artists and making attendance at live orchestra performances possible. Support will also assist in providing musicians for Sinfonia’s partnership with Sacred Heart Hospital’s Arts in Medicine initiative.

Sinfonia recently completed its seventh season of sold-out concerts highlighted by Grammy Award-nominated violinist Caroline Goulding, Tony Award-winning singer Debbie Gravitte, the Amernet Quartet and Broadway sensation Morgan James. Since 2006, Sinfonia has impacted more than 37,000 youth in Okaloosa and Walton Counties through its Musicians in the Schools program and 700 families have experienced live symphonic music as a result of the Students4Free initiative. For more information please visit www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call (850) 269-7229

L to R: Nancy Cottle- Sinfonia Board President, Demetrius Fuller- Sinfonia Music & Artistic Director, Janet Greeno- Executive Assistant to the STJCF and Ken Borick- Senior VP St. Joe & Foundation Trustee

About Sinfonia Gulf Coast
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 Music Director and Founder Demetrius Fuller, 36, and a dedicated board of directors, the nonprofit orchestra is entering its seventh season of innovative musical programming, designed to entertain, educate and inspire the Emerald Coast community. Notable guest artists have included Broadway legend Bernadette Peters, 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, Grammy-nominated violinist Caroline Goulding, Grammy-Award winners John Pizzarelli, Howard Levy, the Parker Quartet and iconic big band Pink Martini. Since its founding, Sinfonia Gulf Coast has presented more than 250 concerts and events, has collaborated with numerous nonprofits and businesses throughout the community and has reached more than 37,000 children through its Sinfonia Guest Artists in the Schools program and music education outreach initiatives. For more information on Sinfonia Gulf Coast, please visit www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org, call (850) 269-7229 or e-mail info@sinfoniagulfcoast.org.

About the St. Joe Community Foundation
Since its inception, the St. Joe Community Foundation has provided nearly $17 million in grants to improve the quality of life in the communities it serves. The Foundation provides charitable grants toward the civic infrastructure of communities in Bay and Walton Counties. The Foundation’s primary focus is on strengthening education, improving healthcare, protecting the environment and supporting local cultural interests. These efforts help build healthy, caring, long-lived communities. For more information, visit www.stjcf.com.