Southwest Florida Symphony Announces Auditions for the 2011-12 Season May 3, 2011

 

 

The Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of Michel Hall, have announced the following vacancies for the 2011-12 Season and will hold auditions on June 7and 8, 2011.  Principal Cello, Principal 2^nd Violin, Section Violin (4), Substitute all Strings and Flute 3/Utility.  The Southwest Florida Symphony is a professional, per-service orchestra performing approximately 60 services per season in Fort Myers and the nearby islands.  The deadline for resume submission is May 24, 2011.  Qualified musicians should send a one page resume to: Southwest Florida Symphony, c/o Personnel Manager, 12651 McGregor Blvd. 4-403, Fort Myers, FL  33919.

Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus April 1, 2011

April 8 & 9, 2011 

Ellis Island – The Dream of America (Pops IV)
8pm Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
Michael Hall, Conductor

Guest, Florida Rep

The conclusion to our Pops series features spectacular collaborative projects. The first part of our evening will feature the Southwest Florida Youth Symphony performing side-by-side with the Southwest Florida Symphony. This rare opportunity will showcase our talented young musicians.  You won’t want to miss this inspiring event.

The second half of this collaborative evening will bring to life the challenges and dreams of early immigrants to America with the production of Ellis Island – The Dream of America by Peter Boyer. The Southwest Florida Symphony and the Florida Rep Theatre will present a captivating and thoughtful program celebrating the immigrant experience and the American dream. Innovative in its format, the work brings elements of the theatre and multimedia onto the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall stage.

 

April 10, 2011

For the Love of Woodwinds (Sanibel III)
7pm Schein Hall, BIG Arts on Sanibel
Michael Hall, Conductor
The first half of the concert is a woodwind lovers paradise with Hahn’s Le Bal de Beatrice d’Este, a French salon piece for wind instruments, piano and harp, and Beethoven’s Rondino, a light and airy piece for woodwind octet. The second half features Sibelius’ Pelleas et Melisande Suite, incidental music for a play that tells the story of doomed and forbidden love.

 

April 16, 2011

MasterWorks #5 (Classic V)
8pm Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall
Michael Hall, Conductor

Guest: William Larsen, Flute

Our last Classical concert of our 50th Anniversary season will feature a second world premiere, entitled Pandora’s Waltz – a concerto for flute.  Also included in MasterWorks #5 is the romantic Hebrides Overture by Mendelssohn and the featured piece of the evening, Symphony no.2, by the Finnish nationalist, Jean Sibelius.

The Southwest Florida Symphony is the oldest performing arts organization and the only professional orchestra in Lee County.  Tickets range from $18-$60 and are available by contacting the Box Office 239-418-1500 or by visiting our website at http://www.swflso.org.

FREE AIR FORCE RESERVE BAND CONCERT January 28, 2011

First Christian Church (

2061 McGregor Blvd., Fort Myers

) is hosting a FREE Air Force Reserve Band Concert on Saturday, January 29 from 2:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.  The doors will open at 2:00 p.m. and seating is on a first come first serve basis. The public is invited to this inspiring concert. Call 239.334.0316 if you have any questions or need additional information.

EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS FEBRUARY 8TH January 24, 2011

JOIN IN SONG TO CELEBRATE THE EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHT AT ‘MRS. EDISON’S HYMN SING’ AT THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH OF FORT MYERS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 8.  THREE PERFORMANCES ARE PLANNED FOR 1 P.M., 

4 P.M. AND 7 P.M.  SING OLD FAVORITES THAT EVERYONE KNOWS AT THIS OFFICIAL EDISON FESTIVAL OF LIGHT EVENT, SPONSORED BY THE GALLOWAY FAMILY OF DEALERSHIPS.  FREE ADMISSION.  CANNED GOODS AND VOLUNTARY CONTRIBUTIONS WILL BE ACCEPTED FOR THE SOUP KITCHEN.  FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL 334-2261.

SANDBLAST 2010 November 8, 2010

A200 will headline SandBlast 2010 Children’s Music Fest, a day of family fun, great music, food & drink and local business vendors. 
Local donations have sponsored the event and proceeds will benefit the Lewis P. Tabarrini Children’s Music Foundation, a new local non-profit organization whose mission is to provide instruments and lessons to those children who can’t afford it. Lewis believed that a boy or girl with a musical instrument in their hands is less likely to be getting into trouble, and he personally provided more than one child with their very first musical instrument.  The organization was founded by Lew’s children, including Bob Tabarrini of A200, the headlining band.

“When my father Lew passed away in July, my heart broke and my world felt so empty,” said Tabarrini.  “As I sat and reflected upon my Dad, I realized that even though he was not a musician, he truly loved music.  As a tribute to my Dad, the Tabarrini children established the foundation to continue the heart and spirit of a wonderful father who simply loved children and loved music.”

This family event will be held from 12pm – 5pm at the Sandbill Homes/Sandbill Realty Properties just west of US41 on Colonial Boulevard.  Sandbill is the main sponsor for the event.

“ We heard The Tabarrini Foundation was looking for a centrally located facility to host this event  and offered our 5.5 acre sales center,” says Courtney Newhaufel of Sandbill Homes and Sandbilll Realty. “We are delighted to be partnering with the foundation to give the gift of music to Southwest Florida youths.”

The goal for the SandBlast Children’s Music Fest and Family Fun Day is to raise enough money to buy 100 acoustic guitars to give to local children for Christmas.  We are also are looking for funding to be able to give more free lessons and instruments to students at the Ft. Myers Music Academy.

Activities at the family fun day will include: face painting, dunk tank, raffles, silent auction and of course, music!

A200 will play at 4 p.m. Also scheduled to play: DVS, Geek Sqwad and Soapy Tuna, all local favorites. 

Admission to the event is FREE and all are welcome to attend!

BETTY AND FRANK BIRELY RIBBONS & BLUES EVENT SET FOR OCT. 17, 2010 October 5, 2010

Lee Memorial Health System announces its Betty & Frank Bireley Ribbons & Blues event, set for 5:30 – 9 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 17, at the Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center in downtown Fort Myers.

The evening offers guests the opportunity to enjoy wine and hors d’oeuvres; scrumptious desserts; great music – The Bunche Band featuring Ernie Cantru; and a silent auction featuring unique ties, scarves and other items decorated by local artists.

Net proceeds will benefit Lee Memorial Health System’s Regional Cancer Center.   

Tickets are $75 per person; sponsorship opportunities are available.

For more information please call the Lee Memorial Health System Foundation office at 239-985-3550 or visit http://www.LeeMemorial.org/Foundation.

 

SOUTHWEST FLORIDA SYMPHONY/TASTE OF THE ARTS September 21, 2010

Taste of the Arts, presented by FineMark National Bank & Trust, will be a unique event for art enthusiasts.  Taste of the Arts will be held at the Alliance for the Arts, November 14, 2010 from 4pm – 7pm. For the first time, the Alliance for the Arts, ArtFest Fort Myers, Florida Rep, Gulf Coast Symphony, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and the Southwest Florida Symphony will come together to showcase their upcoming season. This is a great opportunity to sample Lee County’s finest art offerings and experience firsthand the amazing talent in Southwest Florida.

The various arts organizations will bring the Alliance for the Arts alive with visual arts and performances every 30 minutes. Performances include members of Florida Rep, Gulf Coast Symphony, Gulfshore Ballet, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center’s Laboratory Theater of Florida and the Southwest Florida Symphony. There will also be awe-inspiring art displays representing artists from the Alliance for the Arts and ArtFest Fort Myers.

All guests will be able to enjoy complimentary fine wines provided by Total Wine & More and delectable hors d’oeuvres provided by Crispers, Crowne Plaza, Lazy Flamingo, Morgan House Restaurant, Norman Love Confections, Nirvana Indian Fusion, Pizza Fusion and Sunshine Seafood Café. 

Be part of something fresh & exciting and support the arts that make our community a great place to live, work and play. Admission is $25 per person, which includes 3 stages of live performances, art exhibits, food and wine as well as a cultural coupon book with coupons valued at over $400.

For tickets call 239.332.4488 or visit http://www.tasteofthearts.com

Taste of the Arts is presented by FineMark National Bank & Trust in partnership with Alliance for the Arts, ArtFest Fort Myers, Florida Rep, Gulf Coast Symphony, Sidney & Berne Davis Art Center and the Southwest Florida Symphony. 

SW FLORIDA SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA AND CHORUS HOLDS YOUTH AND ADULT AUDITIONS August 3, 2010

 

The Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and Chorus will hold its second round of auditions for the Adult and Youth Chorus, August 17th from 6pm – 8pm and August 21st from 10am – 2pm at the First Baptist Church, 1735 Jackson Street, in downtown Fort Myers. The Southwest Florida Symphony is looking for music enthusiasts who want to share their gift of singing with others. 

The Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus is currently 130-voice strong and growing every year. In order to audition, please contact the Southwest Florida Symphony office, make an appointment and have a vocal selection prepared. Auditioners will be asked to sight sing and scale sing while the Youth auditioners will be asked to scale sing and match pitch. 

Recently, Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus conductor Joseph Caulkins stated that he would be leaving the Southwest Florida Symphony in December after nine years of devoted service to pursue other opportunities.  However, Maestro Caulkins has planned an entire season full of beautiful and inspiring choral music for the Symphony Chorus. 

Some programs that Maestro Caulkins has planned for the Symphony Chorus include the World Premiere piece written by Paul Richards, especially for the Southwest Florida Symphony and Chorus. This piece, entitled Ecce Cecilia, contains lyrics written by Cape Coral resident and Southwest Florida Symphony violinist Rachel Cox, will begin the 50th Anniversary Season as part of the Master Works #1 concert, October 30, 2010.

The Symphony Chorus will also perform the annual Messiah, December 4th and 5th, as well as the Holiday Pops concert, A Very Merry Pops with Maestro Caulkins conducting his final performance with the Southwest Florida Symphony, December 18th and 19th. His choice of holiday favorites always warms your heart and keeps families coming back year after year.

In addition to their Stained Glass Series, the Symphony Chorus will be preparing for the largest production of the Southwest Florida Symphony season, Mahler’s Symphony no. 2, “Resurrection.” This well-received inspirational piece will be the highlight of the Symphony Chorus’ season as they perform with a 90-piece orchestra at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, March 26, 2011.

Join the Southwest Florida Symphony Chorus and be a part of the 50th Anniversary Season celebration.

For more information or to schedule an audition, contact the Southwest Florida Symphony office at 239-418-0996 or visit us at http://www.swflso.org or email info@swflso.org.

REMEMBER 9/11 July 29, 2010

 

 Amy Sedlacek, anchor of Fox 4 Rising, will emcee the 2nd annual “Remember 9/11” event at Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre. This unique art tribute features artist Leoma Lovegrove painting an oversize patriotic-themed art work accompanied by live music performers, patriotic dancers, video interviews, and reflections by select guest speakers. Last year’s event was supported by over 250 participants and hosted by emcee Mandy Connell. Those with broadband Internet may visit YouTube.com and search for “Remember 9/11 2010” and Listen to Mandy’s review.

“Remember 9/11” also includes audience interactivity and participation. Audience members will be invited to paint their own art side-stage expressing their memories, tributes, and sorrows about 9/11. “Remember 9/11” is presented by Leoma Lovegrove & Mark Haffner Productions.

“PASSION AND FURY” CLASSICAL CONCERT March 17, 2010

The Southwest Florida Symphony, along with Classic concert series sponsor, Uhler & Vertich Financial Planners, will present an evening of emotional extremes in “Passion and Fury” which features the romantic “Piano Concerto no. 2” by Rachmaninoff and the volatile Shostakovich’s “Symphony no. 10,” on March 27 at 8pm at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

The Southwest Florida Symphony will also have its inaugural meeting of the Glow in the Dark Club at this concert. The Glow in the Dark Club is a designated section of Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, where audiences can bring their laptops, iPhones or PDA’s, and join a Webinar that contains material that will enhance the musical experience and add commentary in real-time during the concert. The first trial of this concert experiment will be held at the Saturday night’s performance of “Passion and Fury.”

The concert commentary consists of programming notes and visual enhancement provided by the Southwest Florida Symphony’s Music Director Michael Hall. This commentary includes an informative, musical guide that provides additional information on the composer, history of the piece and insight into the world of classical music all while the orchestra performs the piece. These real-time program notes will be displayed via a Webinar that can be viewed through complimentary access to high-speed wireless internet in the theater–digitizing the traditional concert hall experience.

Glow in the Dark Club tickets are $20 and may be purchased by calling the Symphony Box Office at 239.418.1500 and mentioning, “Glow in the Dark.”At that time, you will be given the password to access the Webinar and download the software needed for the presentation. Future performances of the Glow in the Dark Club will be announced following the feedback and reception of this first beta test.

For tickets to the concert or more information about this and other special events, contact the Symphony Box Office at 239.418.1500 or visit http://www.swflso.org