‘We Gather Together’ A Holiday Kickoff
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra presents concert of Thanksgiving, Christmas
(VERO BEACH, FL) November 11, 2022 – If turkey leftovers are in the fridge, and the holly is being hauled out, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra has the perfect concert for you! We Gather Together combines the music of both Thanksgiving and Christmas for a festive kickoff of the holiday season. On Sunday afternoon, November 27th, the orchestra will be joined by Grammy Award-winning pianist, Jeffrey Biegel for a 3:00 PM concert at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th Street in Vero Beach, 32960. The New York City resident will be featured during the World Premiere of Christopher Marshall’s Thanksgiving Variations, based on the popular hymn, “We Gather Together.” Images of falling snow and a Christmas play with Snoopy and the gang come to mind during the enchanting Peanuts Concerto, based on the music of Charlie Brown composer, Vince Guaraldi. Beloved from the Peanuts specials, the new arrangement of the upbeat Guaraldi classic is a three-movement work for piano and orchestra. We Gather Together will also feature works by the quintessential American composer, Aaron Copland, including “Simple Gifts” from his famous ballet score, Appalachian Spring. The 1848 Shaker tune “Simple Gifts” was made famous by Copland and has come to symbolize simplicity, joy and freedom. The $30 tickets are available through the orchestra website at www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org or at Marine Bank & Trust, beachside and mainland branches. Tickets at the door are $35. Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. For more information about We Gather Together, call toll free to 855-252-7276 or visit www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org.
For Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Artistic Director, Aaron T. Collins, We Gather Together is all about family and friends at the holidays.
“This concert has so many beautiful moments,” said Collins. “We couldn’t be more delighted to have the amazing Jeffrey Biegel back with us to kick off the holiday season. And if you’ve been wondering how to entertain your out-of-town guests –this is it!”
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 2022-23 season or the Symphony for Everyone ticket program, visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call toll-free (855) 252-7276.
ABOUT JEFFREY BIEGEL — The life of Jeffrey Biegel really began after age three, when Mr. Biegel could neither hear nor speak, until corrected by surgery. The ‘reverse Beethoven’ phenomenon explains his life’s commitment to music, having heard only vibrations in his formative years. The year of 2020 focused on composition and commissioning projects: original “Waltzes of Hope”, “Sonatina”, and “Three Reflections: JFK, RBG and MLK” for solo piano, and for piano and orchestra, orchestrations by Harrison Sheckler. Autumn 2021 sees the world premieres of his “Reflection of Justice: An Ode to Ruth Bader Ginsburg” with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, and Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s “Remembering Ruth Bader Ginsburg” for mezzo-soprano, piano and orchestra in tribute to the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg, with mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves. Also, the world premiere of Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s “Shadows” newly arranged for piano and seven players with the Idaho State Civic Symphony.
Considered the most prolific artist of his generation, Moravian College in Bethlehem, PA, conferred the Honorary Degree of Doctor of Humane Letters upon Mr. Biegel in 2015, for his achievements in performance, recordings, chamber music, champion of new music, composer, arranger and educator.
In 2019, Kenneth Fuchs’s “Piano Concerto: ‘Spiritualist'” with the London Symphony Orchestra led by JoAnn Falletta received a Grammy Award for Best Classical Compendium, featuring Mr. Biegel as its soloist. In 2019, the first digital recordings were released on Mr. Biegel’s Naturally Sharp label: “Cyberecital: An Historic Recording”, “A Pianist’s Journey”, and the September 2021 release of George Gershwin’s “Rhapsody in Blue” 1924 version with the Adrian Symphony Orchestra, Bruce Kiesling conducting. In 2022, he will premiere Jim Stephenson’s piano concerto, Daniel Perttu’s ‘A Planets Odyssey’ for piano and orchestra, Farhad Poupel’s “The Legend of Bijan and Manije” for piano, orchestra and chorus, and Peter Boyer’s “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue” in 2023.
Mr. Biegel created the first largest consortium of orchestras in 1998 for Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s ‘Millennium Fantasy’ premiered with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra in 2000, followed with Charles Strouse’s ‘Concerto America’ with the Boston Pops, Lowell Liebermann’s ‘Concerto no. 3’ with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra, William Bolcom’s ‘Prometheus’ for piano, orchestra and chorus, with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra and Pacific Chorale, Richard Danielpour’s ‘Mirrors’ with the Pacific Symphony Orchestra, Ellen Taaffe Zwilich’s ‘Shadows’ with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra, Jake Runestad’s ‘Dreams of the Fallen’ with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Symphony Chorus of New Orleans, Lucas Richman’s ‘Piano Concerto: In Truth’ with the Knoxville Symphony Orchestra, recorded with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, and Kenneth Fuchs’s “Piano Concerto: ‘Spiritualist'” with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MA). He also premiered and recorded Giovanni Allevi’s ‘Concerto for Piano and Orchestra’ and commissioned Christopher Theofanidis’s “Concerto no. 2 for Piano and Orchestra” with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra, the “Peanuts Concerto” by Dick Tunney, based on music by Vince Guaraldi, Jimmy Webb’s ‘Nocturne for Piano and Orchestra’ and, PDQ Bach’s ‘Concerto for Simply Grand Piano and Orchestra’ by Peter Schickele with the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. Renowned composer, Daniel Dorff, composed his Piano Concerto for Mr. Biegel, premiered with the Etowah Youth Orchestra, conducted by Michael Gagliardo.
He studied at The Juilliard School with Adele Marcus, herself a pupil of Josef Lhevinne and Artur Schnabel, and is currently on faculty at the Conservatory of Music at Brooklyn College. For more information, visit JeffreyBiegel.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.
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.