No Luggage Needed for ‘Scandinavian Road Trip’
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra features music of Nordic composers
(VERO BEACH, FL) July 11, 2022 – Fjords. Trolls. And Vikings. As our Florida summer heats up, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra offers a cool musical journey to enchanted lands carved by glaciers. On Sunday, July 24 at 3:00 PM, the SCSO will present Scandinavian Road Trip at the Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd Street, 32960. Scandinavian Road Trip pulls out of the station with Hans Christian Lumbye’s “Copenhagen Steam Railway Galop,” a celebrated work which faithfully recreates the sounds of a chugging train. Then composer Carl Nielsen brings to mind the romantic intrigue of a glittering masked ball in his overture to the Danish opera Maskarade. “A confession of the soul” is what Jean Sibelius called his Symphony No. 2, a work that gave hope to a Finnish people struggling with Russian oppression. Rounding out the trip to northern Europe is Trombone Concerto by Denmark’s Launy Grøndahl, performed by Miami-based Thomas McKee. A classically trained tenor trombonist, McKee is also a teacher, composer and arranger. $30 tickets are available through the orchestra website at SpaceCoastSymphony.org or at Marine Bank & Trust, mainland and beachside branches. Tickets at the door are $35. Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. Passes for the entire 2022-23 performing season are available, as well as ticket “flex packs,” good for any five subscription concerts. For more information about Scandinavian Road Trip, call toll free to 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Artistic Director, Aaron T. Collins looks forward to featuring Miami trombonist Thomas McKee during Scandinavian Road Trip.
“We are fortunate to have many high caliber musicians in the SCSO,” said Collins. “And Thomas is a great example. The trombone concerto he is performing makes it clear to the listener what makes him a true standout.”
Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. For more information about the recently announced Space Coast Symphony 2022-23 season or the Symphony for Everyone ticket program, visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call toll-free (855) 252-7276.
ABOUT THOMAS MCKEE — A Thomas Edward McKee is a classically trained tenor trombonist, teacher, composer and arranger currently based out of Miami, FL. Whether he’s performing the likes of romantic trombone works, swinging through the jazz genre or experimenting with creative new sounds, Thomas enjoys playing all things trombone. A native of Houston, TX, Thomas attended Pearland High School where he took private lessons from freelance trombonist, Brian Logan. Growing up he found his passion for playing trombone when he auditioned for the Houston Youth Symphony and placed in the top orchestra in which he performed with for 2 years. He was also part of Texas Music Festival’s summer Jazz Big Band camp for 2 years where he was featured as a soloist in both years. In his senior year of high school, Thomas placed and performed with the TMEA Philharmonic Orchestra in the Texas All-State Competition. Thomas attended Louisiana State University as an undergraduate where he studied with Steve Menard for 3 years and Dr. Hana Beloglavec for his senior year. Highlights at LSU include performing as a soloist in LSU’s Jazz Lab Band alongside Wycliffe Gordon, touring with the LSU Wind Ensemble across the states of Louisiana and Texas, leading a high school master class for the “Stately Oaks” wind camp as well as performing as a featured soloist with the LSU Jazz Ensemble on the tune “Blue Cellophane.” Outside of school, Thomas often performed as a substitute trombonist with the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra and Acadiana Symphony of Lafayette. In addition, he would regularly perform with professional live bands “After 8,” “Boucoup Boogie,” and “Souled Out” in venues all across southern Louisiana. While at LSU, Thomas performed for 3 years with the “Cool Winter Nights Big Band” led by Dr. Brian Shaw. With that band he was also part of a live Christmas album which was recorded and released in the winter of 2017. Thomas completed his Master’s degree in Trombone Performance at the University of Miami’s highly acclaimed Frost School of Music in the Spring of 2019 where he studied with Professor Tim Conner. The following school year he returned to UM and completed his Artist Diploma degree, serving as a Teaching Assistant for the Frost Trombone Studio as well as a Fellow for the Henry Mancini Institute Orchestra. Since he began in the fall of 2017, his highlights have included performing as a principal trombonist for the Frost Wind Ensemble and the Frost Symphony Orchestra, leading master classes for Frost’s high school honor band camp as well as a couple stints conducting for the Frost Trombone Choir. Since settling into life in south Florida, Thomas has recorded music for Bad Bunny and currently performs with the Nu Deco Ensemble, Southwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, Space Coast Symphony Orchestra, South Florida Master Chorale, and the Miami Sousa Band. In addition to being an active freelance musician Thomas works as the Music Director of SLAM Miami, a public charter school located in the Little Havana community, and is currently developing a music program from the ground up.
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.
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. 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 nonprofit 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.