Favorites Selected For ‘Symphonic Jukebox‘
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra plays hit parade of classical pieces
(VERO BEACH, FL) March 6, 2023 – Popular from the 1940’s through the 1960’s, the coin-operated jukebox could play your favorite songs with the push of a couple of buttons. For fans of classical music, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra will play a historical hit parade of tunes when they present Symphonic Jukebox on Sunday, March 19 at 3:00 PM, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th Street in Vero Beach, 32960. The audience will enjoy popular overtures, dances and other short works from composers such as Rimsky-Korsakov, Glinka, Morricone, Von Suppe, Smetana and Rossini. Selections include “Ruslan and Lyudmila Overture,” “Marche Slave,” “Light Cavalry Overture,” “Dance of the Comedians,” “Orpheus in the Underworld” and more. Two SCSO musicians will be highlighted in the sonic spectacular. Flutist, Dr. Brendon Wilkins will perform the Romantic era Flute Concerto in D major by Reinecke, while violinist Carlos Jaquez will perform Ennio Morricone’s rapturous theme from Cinema Paradiso. Wilkins is a 2015 National Flute Association competition winner, and Jaquez is a well-regarded concert violinist with several prestigious orchestras. Also on the program is the World Premiere of Tuscan Portraits, a work by Central Florida musician and composer, Mark Piszczek. $30 tickets are available through the orchestra website 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 Symphonic Jukebox, call toll free to 855-252-7276 or visit www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org.
From its use in TV commercials conceived on Madison Avenue to Saturday morning cartoons, classical music has a part to play in the soundtrack to American culture. For Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Artistic Director, Aaron T. Collins, the Symphonic Jukebox concert is a “greatest hits” album.
“There are so many pieces on this special program that people are familiar with,” said Collins. “The reason they are popular becomes apparent as soon as the orchestra begins to play.”
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 DR. BRENDON WILKINS – Brendon M. Wilkins is a multi-instrumentalist performer and educator who is involved in both classical and jazz woodwind performance. Brendon has performed in various musical mediums throughout the United States and has maintained active teaching studios in-person and online in New York, Texas, Florida, and Maine. Brendon is the Director of Jazz Ensemble and Wind Ensemble at Colby College in Waterville, Maine. In addition to his responsibilities as a conductor, he teaches woodwinds as an Applied Music Associate. Brendon also performs with the Colby Symphony Orchestra and the Colby Jazz Collective.
ABOUT CARLOS JAQUEZ – A very successful freelance concert violinist, Carlos Jaquez is simultaneously assistant concertmaster at Florida Lakes Symphony in Mount Dora, FL, first violin section at the Space Coast Symphony and acting assistant concertmaster at Charlotte Symphony. Has played in the Palm Beach Pops Orchestra, Boca Pops, Sunshine Pops, Miami City Ballet (principal), Sociedad Pro Arte Grateli (concertmaster), Florida Grand Opera, Gold Coast Opera, Southwest Florida Symphony Fort Myers, Symphony of the Americas, and many more. In previous seasons, Mr. Jaquez maintained an international demanding schedule, performing in Germany, the Slovak Republic, Austria and Hungary, as well as the Caribbean and throughout the United States.
ABOUT MARK PISZCZEK – Mark Piszczek (b. 1957) is a native of central Florida where his parents worked in the fledgling space program. A professional performer on both oboe and saxophone, Piszczek has a deep background in both jazz and classical music. He has led his own groups and worked as a studio musician for over 30 years. He has written hundreds of jazz compositions, a flute sonata, two woodwind quintets, a string quartet, four works for chamber orchestra, a brass quintet, a trio for clarinet, viola and piano, a symphony for winds and percussion, and major work for symphony orchestra, Songs from the Gulf of Sorrows, which was premiered by The Brevard Symphony Orchestra in 2016. He also has to his credit a trio for flute, clarinet, bassoon and piano based on native American folk songs, a trio for woodwinds and a new orchestral work upcoming.
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.