Space Coast Symphony Orchestra welcomes Tulsa jazz superstar for Vero Beach concert
(VERO BEACH, FL) February 4, 2021 – Superstar entertainer, Jeff Shadley returns to Florida for the Great American Songbook at 3:00 PM on Valentine’s Day, Sunday, February 14 at the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Avenue in Vero Beach, 32960. The Tulsa vocalist, trumpeter and band leader will join members of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra for selections by George and Ira Gershwin, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Johnny Mercer, Jimmy Van Heusen, Dean Martin, and Frank Sinatra. The concert promises to swing, with Shadley leading the party on a journey through a century of America’s greatest music. The concert title is derived from the aptly named Great American Songbook, a canon of the most important and influential American popular songs of the 20th Century. Compiled principally from Broadway theatre, musical theatre and Hollywood musical films from the 1920s through the 1950s, the Great American Songbook includes dozens of songs of enduring popularity. $30 advance tickets for adults are available through the orchestra website at SpaceCoastSymphony.org or at beachside and mainland branches of Marine Bank & Trust. Tickets at the door are $35. Online ticketing is encouraged, for optimum social distancing and capacity planning. The symphony’s Covid-19 safety measures will be in place for the indoor concert, including temperature checks, limited and spaced seating and mandatory mask-wearing for the duration of the event. The audience is asked not to arrive more than 30 minutes prior to show time. Great American Songbook is free for those aged 18 and under or with a student ID. For more information, call toll free to 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director, Aaron T. Collins has put together a Valentine’s Day treat for jazz lovers.
“Who needs a box of chocolates when you’ve got this sweet musical recipe,” asked Collins. “Take a superstar entertainer, add talented musicians from our great orchestra and blend in your favorite tunes. You get the 20th Century’s best songs served up with a heaping helping of swing!”
Frank Sinatra is well represented in the concert repertoire, with songs like “Come Fly With Me,” “You Make me Feel So Young,” “New York, New York” and others. Songbook fans will recognize, “Somewhere Beyond the Sea,” “My Funny Valentine,” “The Girl From Ipanema,” “All of Me” and many other favorites.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the symphony’s board of directors has chosen a slate of safety protocols consistent with other performing groups in Central Florida. The SCSO Covid-19 policy is available here: https://spacecoastsymphony.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/SCSO-Covid-Policy.pdf
Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. For more information about the Space Coast Symphony’s 2020-21 Season and to view Covid-19 protocols for each performance, please visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call toll-free (855) 252-7276.
ABOUT JEFF SHADLEY— Jeff D. Shadley began playing trumpet in the Boston area at 10 years of age. After his family moved to Chicago, he continued playing and especially took to the work of the great Jazz trumpeter, Clifford Brown. Early in high school, he began memorizing Clifford’s improvised solos and continued studying both Jazz and Classical trumpet. A subsequent move brought him to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Before finishing high school, Jeff played in the Tulsa Youth Symphony, the Tulsa All City Jazz Band, won the Louis Armstrong Award for Outstanding Musicianship, and was principal trumpet in the All State Band. While completing a degree in Trumpet Performance at The University of Tulsa, Jeff began playing professionally in the Tulsa area. Although his focus continued to be Jazz, he also played with the Tulsa Ballet, the Tulsa Philharmonic Pops and the Bartlesville Orchestra. As a freelance musician based in Tulsa, Jeff performed with the various celebrities that came through town: Mel Torme, Frank Sinatra, Jr., Vic Damone, Dianne Schuur, Maureen McGovern, Ellis Marsalis, David Sanborn, Pete Fountain, Bill Watrous, Clark Terry, and others.
Jeff began adding his award-winning voice to his performances in 2005. His dynamic trumpet playing and Rat Pack vocal style has won over the critics and transformed him into a highly demanded all around entertainer. As such, he appears frequently with his 24-piece Orchestra, 18-piece Big Band and 8-pc Combo and Quartet. Jeff performs at the Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame, the (Woodie) Gutherie Green, Tulsa Performing Arts Center, Utica Square near Downtown Tulsa and many other venues. Jeff’s first album, “When You Dream”, featuring the full Big Band is available for download on iTunes and most other digital music distribution sites. In addition to his own groups, Jeff has been a soloist on both trumpet and voice with the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra in Vero Beach, the Maitland Symphony Orchestra in Florida, the Starlight Band in Tulsa, the Signature Symphony in Tulsa and the Symphony of Northwest Arkansas (SoNA). Jeff lives in Tulsa with his beloved wife Ronnamarie Jensen and two boys. Ronna is the Associate Concertmaster of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra, the Co-Concertmaster of the Tulsa Opera and plays Violin or Viola in other symphonic organizations in the region. More about Mr. Shadley is available on his website, Shadley.com.
ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA— The SCSO is a lively and passionate Central Florida orchestra comprised of professional musicians, music educators and mentored amateurs of exceptional ability. The Orchestra was formed by Conductor and Artistic Director Aaron T. Collins with a two-fold mission: to provide mentoring and performance opportunities for Florida’s finest young musicians as well as to provide professional concerts at genuinely affordable prices. The ultimate goal of the organization is to help ensure the symphonic tradition for the enjoyment of future generations.
37-year old Aaron T. Collins is garnering recognition for his achievements. LEAD Brevard named the ambitious Collins one of their “4 under 40” Young Professionals, the youngest-ever recipient of the honor. Space Coast Business magazine listed him as one of Brevard’s “100 Most Admired Businesspeople.” Collins is a past recipient of the Richard A. Stark Award for cultural leadership from the Cultural Council of Indian River County. Through his personal involvement with more than a dozen performing arts groups, pioneering reciprocal ad program and social media cross promotions, Collins has gained a reputation for generosity; championing other arts organizations throughout Central Florida for the cultural enrichment of the community.
School-aged children 18 years and under are admitted free of charge, as are college students with a valid ID. In keeping with their mission, the symphony provides a unique Symphony for Everyone ticketing program, a “pay-what-you-can” option designed to provide substantially discounted admission to any Space Coast Symphony concert (PLEASE NOTE: availability may vary during Covid pandemic). Relying on a non-traditional orchestra model and a slim budget, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is one of only 19 U.S. orchestras to perform year-round. In addition to maintaining the Space Coast Symphony JAZZ Orchestra and Space Coast Symphony Wind Orchestra, the non-profit organization also has a youth orchestra and provides numerous separate and free ensemble performances. More information about the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concerts, ticket sales, venues, directions and sponsorship opportunities is available at SpaceCoastSymphony.org by calling toll free (855) 252-7276.
