Mike Block, Lois Conrad, and Jacob Craig. PHOTO BY JOSHUA KODIS

The Indian River Symphonic Association is offering another exceptional season of performances by renowned orchestras and musicians. Audiences can look forward to listening to two international orchestras, such virtuosos as violinist Joshua Bell and emerging star cellist Alisa Weilerstein, and a range of music that includes classical and romantic as well as modern and contemporary.

One of IRSA’s newest board members is longtime professional musician Mike Block. Last year, Block assumed the position of program director and took time to give Vero Beach 32963 an overview of the upcoming season.

In addition to being an internationally touring cellist and educator, Block has become a fixture of the Vero Beach music scene as the founder and director of the popular Mike Block String Camp. For the past 15 years, he has brought in celebrated artists each summer to teach musicians of all ages.

Having become enamored of the area during their visits, Block and wife Hanneke Cassel, an award-winning fiddler, purchased a home here. Not long after, he was enticed to add to his already busy schedule by joining the IRSA board.

“I had friends on the board, they had an opening, and I agreed to join,” he says. “By the time I had my second meeting, I filled the need of program chair.”

This new gig is an exciting one, he says, because he is helping to bring some of the best orchestras and soloists in the classical music industry to Vero Beach.

Moreover, he says the experience of attending these concerts is a rare one. The venue, the Community Church of Vero Beach, is one of the smallest venues in which these prominent musicians perform.

“It’s unique in that you get to see them play up close. It’s a very comfortable, intimate experience,” he says. “People can rest assured they will be treated to world-class music and world-class players.”

Indeed.

Here is the schedule of performances presented by the Indian River Symphonic Association in its 2024 season:

Friday, Jan. 19

The Sofia Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Nayden Todorov, will perform an all-Ludwig van Beethoven program, including “Emperor,” Beethoven’s Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-flat Major, Op. 73 “Emperor,” featuring pianist Ivaylo Vassilev. Other pieces to be performed are the Coriolan Overture, Op. 62; and Symphony No. 7 in A Major, Op. 92.
“That’s going to be an incredible season opener with some of the greatest hits classical music has to offer,” Block says.

Sunday, Feb. 4

The Brevard Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Confessore, is “Celebrating 100 Years of Gershwin Melodies” featuring pianist Jeffrey Biegel performing the iconic “Rhapsody in Blue.” The program also features Peter Boyer’s “Rhapsody in Red, White & Blue,” a new piece written to celebrate the Feb. 12, 1924, premier of Gershwin’s masterpiece.

Block says the concert not only “looks into the past but also looks into the present as well.”

Tuesday, Feb. 20

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Jader Bignamini, will feature cellist Alisa Weilerstein performing Edward Elgar’s Cello Concerto in E Minor, Op. 85. Other works include Michael Abels’ “Emerge,” and Rimsky Korsakov’s “Scheherazade,” Op. 35.
Block describes the Elgar piece, which he wrote as the British Empire was fading and during a time of much societal change, as one of deep pathos and passion. “It’s a really melancholy work that’s really powerful.”

Sunday, March 3

The Palm Beach Symphony, conducted by Gerard Schwarz, will perform William Grant Still’s “Threnody: In Memory of Jean Sibelius”; Richard Strauss’ “Der Rosenkavalier,” Op. 59 Suite; and Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky’s Symphony No. 4 in F Minor, Op. 36.
Of particular interest, Block says, is the “Threnody” piece. “Still is an African American composer who is getting a lot of well-deserved attention in recent years. It’s good to see this balancing out of old European standards on that program.”

Sunday, March 10

The Brevard Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Christopher Confessore, will feature violinist Paul Huang playing Eric Wolfgang Korngold’s Violin Concerto in D Major, Op. 35. The orchestra will also perform Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Overture to “The Magic Flute,” and “Pictures at an Exhibition,” by Modest Mussorgsky/arr. Maurice Ravel.
Block says he sees a visual element running through this program, even with Korngold piece. “Eric Korngold actually made most of his money and a lot of success writing music for Hollywood.”

Tuesday, March 19

The Academy of St. Martin in the Fields will feature famed conductor and violinist Joshua Bell performing Max Bruch’s Violin Concerto No. 1 in G Minor, Op. 26. Other pieces include Gioachino Rossini’s Overture from “The Barber of Seville,” and Johannes Brahms’ Symphony No. 2 in D Major, Op. 73.

“What’s so special about this is you have Joshua Bell as violinist and conductor in a smaller, more intimate group,” Block says. “This is going to feel more intimate and personal, approaching a chamber music level of interaction on the stage. It’s going to be exciting.”

Monday, March 24

The Kyiv Virtuosi Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Dmitry Yablonski, will feature pianist Alon Kariv performing Franz Liszt’s Piano Concerto No. 2 in A Major. Other works include Alexey Shor’s Overture from “Crystal Palace,” and Antonín Dvořák’s Symphony No. 8 in G Major, Op 88.

This will be a powerful, emotionally wrought concert, Block says.

“Alexey Shor is a living composer. That is likely going to be a really personal statement from the orchestra. And the Liszt bookends the season. I think that will close out the season very successfully and very meaningfully.”

All of the concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Community Church of Vero Beach, 1901 23rd St., Vero Beach. Season tickets range from $395 to $435. Single tickets vary in price from $85 to $125. For more information, call 772-778-1070 or visit IRSymphonic.org.”