The Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra welcomes the return of the area’s own Sara Luciani, who will perform Cimarosa’s “Concerto for Oboe and Strings.” Luciani, née Diehl, is from Vero Beach. She currently plays oboe and English horn with the Atlantic Classical orchestra. Before that, she played with the Palm Beach Pops, the Austin Symphony, the Miami City Ballet, Florida Grand Opera and much more. She received her doctorate of musical arts degree from the University of Miami. After a pandemic hiatus and a successful battle against breast cancer, she returns to the stage Sunday to perform with the Vero Beach Chamber Orchestra. Also on the program is Rossini’s Overture to the “Barber of Seville” and Schubert’s “Symphony No. 1.” The concert begins 2 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center, 1707 16th St., Vero Beach. Tickets are free, but donations are appreciated. For more information, visit VeroBeachChamberOrchestra.org.
The Treasure Coast Symphony will perform classical favorites Sunday afternoon at the St. John of the Cross Catholic Church. The program includes Hungarian Dance No. 5, the Overture to the Poet and Peasant and Beethoven’s First symphony. It will be conducted by Matthew Karram and features Amy Clark with accompanist Ryan Kasten. Beth Shestak will sing Schubert’s “Ave Maria.” The concert is free and begins 4 p.m. Sunday, April 23, at St. John of the Cross Catholic Church, 7590 26th St., Vero Beach. A free offering will be accepted. For more information, visit TreasureCoastSymphony.org or call 772-584-9744.
Another Sunday concert features the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra showcasing new work by area composers. The program includes chamber music by the orchestra’s conductor and artistic director Aaron Collins and new work by three of his students, Lucas Cornejo, Guyfrancis Charleston and Payton Brown, who is a student at the renowned Eastman School of Music. The concert begins at 3 p.m. at Trinity Episcopal Church, 2365 Pine Ave., Vero Beach. Tickets are $30 in advance or $35 at the door. Those under 18 years of age or with a college ID are admitted free. For more information, call 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.
While not a concert “per se,” there will be music at “Forks & Corks,” a popular fundraiser for the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, which performs regularly in the Vero Beach area. The fundraiser includes food, wines, cigars, bourbon tasting, auctions and valet parking. It runs 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday, April 30, at the oceanfront home of Djon Pepaj, a popular personality and restaurant owner in the south Brevard dining scene. Tickets are $150 per person. For more information, visit BrevardSymphony.com/forks or call 321-345-5052.
The Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation celebrates National Poetry Month with its 12th annual Poetry and BBQ event. Admission to that is $35. It begins 2 p.m. Sunday, April 22, with student and local poet readings. The featured program, “Tying the Knot: When Poets Marry” with Barbara Hamby and David Kirby, and Chelsea Rathbun and Jim May, begins at 4 p.m. The BBQ Dinner begins at 5:30 p.m. Cost is $35. It will be held at the Richardson Center, IRS Mueller Campus, Vero Beach. By the way, before that, there will be an Adult Writers’ Workshop beginning 9:30 a.m. Friday at the Laura (Riding) Jackson Foundation Writing Center. Admission to that is $50. Call 772-569-6718 or visit LRJF.org.
An Earth Day & Arbor Day Celebration will be hosted by the City of Sebastian’s National Resources Board on Saturday. The event includes vendors, children’s activities, food, family-friendly activities, an art show and live music. It also gives you a chance to speak with representatives from environmental nonprofits. The event runs 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at Riverview Park, 600 U.S. 1, Sebastian. Earth Day is also the time when you can do paper shredding, electronic recycling from 9 a.m. to noon at Riverview Park. You can also get rid of unwanted household items that day by dropping them off between 9 a.m. and noon at the Sebastian Barber Street Sports Complex, 1121 Barber St., Sebastian. For more information, visit CityOfSebastian.org.
“A Night at the Races” begins 6 p.m. Saturday, April 22, at the Heritage Center. Funds raised will benefit the Veterans Council of Indian River County. The event includes food by Wild Thyme, an open bar, Mint Juleps, “horse racing,” hat contest, a wine pull, bourbon wall and more. Admission is $150. The Heritage Center is at 2140 14th Ave., Vero Beach. For more information, visit VeteransCIRC.com or call 772-410-5820.
