Symphonic season: Priceless concerts, and affordable too!

The Indian River Symphonic Association may have reduced the quantity but certainly not the quality of the orchestras they are presenting to audiences this year. Once again outstanding, they include three brand new to Vero and two returning favorites.

IRSA board member Jacob Craig, director of music and arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, explains that by going from seven concerts to five they are able to get higher priced orchestras. Even then, their concerts are considerably more affordable than they would be elsewhere.

“I always like to remind people that we’re talking about $90 to $130 ticket prices. That is a fraction of what you would pay to see these orchestras live in their own spaces or in some of the great halls throughout the world,” says Craig.

“But with IRSA, you get to have dinner, cross the bridge, park in the parking lot and just walk a few hundred feet to a seat where the worst seats at Community Church are still amongst the best seats you could ever buy in some of these great big halls. It’s intimate; you’re right there with these major groups. You get all the benefit for a fraction of the cost. It’s like the greatest deal ever,” he adds.

The schedule for the Indian River Symphonic Association’s 2026 season is as follows:

Minería Symphony Orchestra of Mexico
Thursday, Jan. 15
Carlos Miguel Prieto, Conductor
Pacho Flores, Trumpet Soloist
Joseph Haydn, Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major
Paquito D’Rivera, Concerto Venezolano
Silvestre Revueltas, Sensemayá
Alberto Ginastera, Four Dances from Estancia
Arturo Márquez, Danzón No. 2

This is an inaugural visit to Vero by this foremost Mexican orchestra and it’s the first time IRSA has had a featured trumpet soloist. Its conductor, Carlos Miguel Prieto, a graduate of Princeton and Harvard, is recognized as the leading Mexican conductor of his generation.
“And Pacho Flores is a world-renowned, incredible Latin player. He’s a phenomenal virtuosic trumpet player. He’s doing a very, very famous Trumpet Concerto in E-flat major by Haydn,” says Craig.

He will also be playing the Concerto Venezolano, which was composed by Cuban born Paquito D’Rivera to highlight the virtuosity of the Venezuelan-born Flores, who premiered it in 2019 at the Palace of Fine Arts in Mexico City, with this same orchestra and conductor.
The last piece on the program, Danzón No. 2 by Arturo Márquez, is now so celebrated in Mexico that it is informally known as that county’s second national anthem.
“So that’s kind of a cool opening,” says Craig.

Prague Philharmonia
Tuesday, Jan. 20
Emmanuel Villaume, Conductor
Beethoven, Overture to Coriolan
Mendelssohn Piano Concerto No. 1 in G minor, Op.25 with Piano Soloist Andrew von Oeyen
Mozart, Violin Concerto No. 3 with Violin Soloist Blake Pouliot
Dvořák, Symphony No. 8 in G major, Op 88

French conductor Emmanuel Villaume, who has led prestigious opera companies and orchestras around the world, and who has also been music director of the Dallas Opera since 2013, brings two soloists to Vero.

“Prague is playing relatively familiar material such as the Beethoven Coriolan Overture, a very famous work by him, which is exciting. And they’re introducing two up-and-coming stars in the piano and violin world,” says Craig.

American pianist Andrew von Oeyen will be playing Mendelssohn’s lyrical Piano Concerto No. 1. He began studying piano at age 5, debuted at age 16 with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and has since appeared as a soloist with orchestras worldwide.

Canadian violinist Blake Pouliot also started out young, making his orchestral debut at age 11, before taking the world by storm. When not touring he is the Soloist-in-Residence at the Orchestre Métropolitain in Montreal. Pouliot will be playing Dvorak’s Symphony No. 8, which Craig calls one of Dvorak’s “most radiant and life affirming works.”

Orpheus Chamber Orchestra
Thursday, March 5
Marc-André Hamelin, Piano Soloist
Michi Wiancko, The Chopiniana Suite
Liszt, Wanderer Fantasy after Schubert
Schubert/Breuer, Chamber Symphony in B-flat Major

“This is the one I’m really excited about. One of the things I like drive home with people when we describe IRSA as being so unique, is that a lot of people like to tout and use descriptive words like ‘world class’ inappropriately. This is actually it. Orpheus is like the real deal,” says Craig.

“They and Academy of St. Martin in the Field are widely regarded as the two finest chamber orchestras in the world. It’s just that simple. And it’s incredible that they get to come to us.”

He explains that Orpheus, formed in New York in 1972, has set itself apart over the past decades for its reputation of having what’s called perfect performance practice, meaning everything is played exactly as the composer intended.

“And arguably, that can really make for some of the most incredible musical moments possible,” says Craig.

It’s no stretch to say that meeting Marc-André Hamelin will be the highlight of Craig’s year.

“I mean, I’ve loved him my whole life. And now, not only do I get to see him live, but I actually get to do a little pre-concert interview with him for half an hour before. I’m going to be sitting right next to him. I’m so excited,” says Craig.

“This is just a personal opinion; I think he is the absolute finest living pianist. Definitely. Most pianists become considered masters posthumously. I think there is no doubt that, along with Rubinstein and Horowitz and all the greats, he is absolutely going to be considered one of the great piano masters. And it’s just so cool that he’s coming,” says Craig.

Academy of St. Martin in the Fields
Monday, March 16
Joshua Bell, Director and Violin Soloist
Charles Ives: Variations on “America” (arr. Iain Farrington)
Camille Saint-Saëns: Violin Concerto No. 3 in B Minor, Op. 61
Robert Schumann: Symphony No. 1 in Bb Major, Op. 38 “Spring”

“We’re just really lucky that we have a relatively consistent relationship with them and the audiences love him here. They have a pretty unique history, because St. Martin in the Fields, of course, is a church in London,” says Craig. “They still do an annual concert there. So you never know sometimes, where a church music program can go.”

Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra
Tuesday, March 24
JoAnn Falletta, Conductor
Simone Porter, Violin Soloist
Michael Butterworth: On the Banks of the Green Willow
Max Bruch: Scottish Fantasy
Johannes Brahms: Symphony No. 1 in C Minor, Op. 68

“JoAnn Falletta has made a wonderful name for herself. She is making Buffalo known as one of the great American major orchestras for sure. And tons of people in this town are familiar with them and are from around Buffalo,” says Craig.

“Simone Porter is an up-and-coming violin star as well. She’s making her name really quickly up through the ranks in America. She has equal parts virtuosity and really excellent musicianship. She’s definitely one of the new hot violin soloist that’s making the rounds right now,” says Craig.

All concerts begin at 7:30 p.m. at the Community Church of Vero Beach. For tickets and more information, visit IRSymphonic.org or call 772-778-1070.