First Presbyterian of Vero Beach hosts Astralis Chamber Ensemble January 28
(VERO BEACH, FL) January 15, 2024 – Vero Beach is about to receive a free musical gift: Talented performers from the touring Astralis Chamber Ensemble will stop in Vero Beach for a concert featuring the work of European Masters on Sunday, January 28. Their 4:00 PM concert will be hosted by the church long known for its musical outreach, First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard. Individual members of the group have received international recognition and are coming together from Texas, Atlanta and Florida to perform the European Masters concert for the community. The quartet of award-winning musicians includes Angela Massey (flute), Rachel Aguilar (violin) and spouse, Paul Aguilar (viola); and Laura Usiskin (cello). The audience for European Masters can expect to hear a program of virtuosic works by composers Mozart, JS Bach, Handel and Kuhlau. In addition, the concert will include a staple of the quartet repertoire, Mendelssohn’s D Major Quartet. The Astralis Chamber Ensemble has a core roster of select, auditioned musicians. The ensemble presents nine tours per season of over 60 programs with duos, trios, or quartets. Admission is free. For more information, call (772) 562-9088.
Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, is anticipating a particularly fine program by the quartet of talented musicians from the Astralis Chamber Ensemble in their second Vero Beach performance.
“This group is by far one of the finest chamber ensembles I have come across,” said Dr. Craig. “Their musicianship is certainly superlative, as is their audience engagement. Concertgoers will enjoy the players’ energy and artistry, and also the interesting explanations they provide during the concert.”
Flute player Angela Massey is the Artistic Director and founder of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble — and also one of several new parents in the group.
“Our Vero Beach concert will include works for the entire quartet as well as duos and solo pieces that feature each performer,” said Massey. “We will talk about all of the music selected and share the stories behind the music. We all have fairly new additions to our families as well, so our little ones are traveling with us!”
Angela Massey has been a featured soloist including appearances with the Tryon Concert Association, Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC, and abroad in France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and Switzerland. Rachel Aguilar was a founding member of the Callisto Quartet, along with her husband, Paul. Together, they have won top prizes in leading chamber music competitions, including Banff, Bordeaux, Fischoff, Melbourne, Wigmore Hall, and Manhattan International Competitions. Laura Usiskin has performed in concert halls throughout the United States and Europe, including the Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Symphony Hall (Boston), Alice Tully Hall (NYC), Carnegie Weill Hall (NYC), and the Palazzo Chigi Saracini (Italy).
The Astralis Chamber Ensemble concert is just one of many events sponsored or hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, known for its musical and artistic outreach to the Central Florida community. For a list of upcoming events or for more information about First Presbyterian of Vero Beach, visit www.FirstPresVero.org.
