Orchestra Performs Music of ‘American Icons‘
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra plays Gershwin, Ellington, Bernstein & more
(VERO BEACH, FL) September 11, 2023 – The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra goes all-American, with a concert of American Icons on Sunday, September 24 at 3:00 PM, at the Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd St, 32960. Pianist Alessandro de Fonseca is likely to dazzle the audience with a performance of George Gershwin’s unforgettable and energetic, Variations on I Got Rhythm. Composed during a three-week vacation to Palm Beach, Gershwin took the melody of his hit song, “I Got Rhythm” as the basis for the piece and dedicated the variations to his brother, Ira. Jazz is further infused in the concert by legendary Duke Ellington’s Three Black Kings, which tells the stories of Balthazar, King Solomon, and the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in a rich symphonic tapestry. The concert will also feature Leonard Bernstein’s hugely popular Symphonic Dances from West Side Story, a lively score featuring the musical’s most memorable moments—from shouts of “Mambo!” to the wistful final chords of “Somewhere.” Kevin Scott’s Fanfare G.A.F: An American Overture, has been described as an optimistic romp for orchestra. The overture was composed in the summer of 1984, when Geraldine Ferraro became the first woman nominated for Vice President by a major political party. In addition, the Space Coast Symphony also welcomes back Grammy-winning composer, Kenneth Fuchs to present the Southeast U.S. premiere of “Point of Tranquility,” the title composition from Fuchs’ seventh Naxos album. The work is inspired by an abstract painting of the same name by artist Morris Louis; Fuchs was moved to create a piece that suggested the same “washes of color,” converging on a point of tranquility. $30 tickets for American Icons 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 American Icons, call toll free to 855-252-7276 or visit www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org.
Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Artistic Director, Aaron T. Collins is excited to showcase the talent of composers and musicians during American Icons.
“This is a concert that’s just bursting with American vitality,” said Collins. “The fantastic works by composers Kenneth Fuchs and Kevin Scott rank right up there with the music we’ll hear by Gershwin, Bernstein and Ellington. And speaking of Gershwin, Dr. Fonseca’s brilliant interpretation at the piano is not to be missed.”
The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is one of only a handful of U.S. orchestras to perform year-round. 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 2023-24 season or the Symphony for Everyone ticket program, visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call toll-free (855) 252-7276.
