The Yale Spizzwinks bring their lively vocal harmonies back at to the Emerson Center, 1590 27th Ave., Vero Beach. The free concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 3, is hosted by the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. Now in its 111th year, the “Spizzwinks” have been delighting audiences around the world with close-harmony arrangements that blend musical sophistication and quick wit. The group’s tuxedo-clad singers deliver high-energy performances that mix jazz standards, pop hits, rock ballads, and Broadway tunes, all performed without a single instrument. They have performed at heady venues including Carnegie Hall, Disney World, St. Patrick’s Cathedral and the White House. The ensemble last performed on the Space Coast in 2023, earning an enthusiastic local following. “The Spizzwinks just about brought the house down the last time they were here,” said Aaron T. Collins, conductor and artistic director of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra. “Their rapport with the audience is incredible! We are beyond proud to host another fun concert by these talented young people.” Admission is free, but a $25 donation is suggested to support the orchestra’s community programs. For tickets, call 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSyphony.org.
The Emerson Center (address above) is also the place for the educational “E-Series” of talks. The first of the year features Heather Stapleton of the Indian River Lagoon National Estuary Program for an evening devoted to “The Indian River Lagoon Story.” The talk begins at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, Jan. 6, with doors opening at 6 p.m. Stapleton will explore what makes the Indian River Lagoon one of North America’s most biologically diverse estuaries, and how local citizens can take part in its protection. She will discuss community engagement projects like the Indian River Lagoon Calendar Photo Contest, which pairs aesthetic appreciation with environmental stewardship. “The lagoon is not just a scenic treasure; it’s an ecosystem that depends on us,” Stapleton has said in past presentations, calling public involvement “a key to sustaining the estuary for generations to come.” Admission is free, with a suggested donation of $10. More details are available at TheEmersonCenter.com.
The Vero Beach International Music Festival presents the Mike Block Trio in concert at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 8, at the First Presbyterian Church, 520 Royal Palm Blvd., Vero Beach. Known for its dedication to global musical exchange, the festival has previously hosted artists from as far afield as India, Uruguay, Mali and Portugal. This year’s performance features Grammy Award-winning cellist Mike Block alongside mandolin virtuoso Joe K. Walsh and esteemed bassist Zachariah Hickman. Block, a Juilliard-trained cellist and member of Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble, brings a cross-cultural approach to his musicianship, one that fuses classical technique with folk, pop and global influences. In addition to teaching at his annual Mike Block String Camp held during the summer, he tours internationally, performing solo and with ensembles ranging from Indian tabla collaborations to West African fusion projects. Walsh, whose background in bluegrass includes work with the Gibson Brothers and the band Mr. Sun, is both an acclaimed performer and educator at Berklee College of Music. Hickman, a bassist and producer from Boston with roots in jazz and Americana, has performed with Josh Ritter, Ray LaMontagne and Rose Cousins, earning a Canadian Juno Award as producer. Among the highlights of the program will be “Hope on the Hill,” Block’s newly composed suite inspired by the life and artistic philosophy of architect Frank Lloyd Wright. Tickets are $25 and may be preordered online at Vero.Show or purchased at the door. Additional donations accepted at the concert will support the Mike Block String Camp Scholarship Fund, extending musical education opportunities to aspiring young players. Information is also available by phone at 216-965-7593.
Plan ahead for Riverside Theatre’s “Backstage Access” program, described as “part lecture, part participation, part discussion.” This gives you a behind-the-scenes look at how big shows are brought to life from both the artistic and business sides of producing theater. They are led by the theater’s director of education, Kevin Quillinan, the executive producer/CEO Jon Moses and dance education director Adam Schnell. The tuition for each of the two- or three-week classes is $75 each. Class sizes are limited. The next one up is a three-class program examining the history of “A Gentleman’s Guide to Love & Murder,” which opens at Riverside Jan. 9. The class will also look at the writers and composers and the intricacies of farce. That series of classes runs Jan. 8, Jan. 9 and Jan. 15. Riverside Theatre is at 3250 Riverside Dr., Vero Beach. Call 772-231-6990 or visit RiversideTheatre.com.
