Sinfonia Gulf Coast 2014-2015: Seeing is Believing

Sinfonia Gulf Coast is set to stir the senses with Seeing is Believing, the Northwest Florida orchestra’s ninth season, featuring an innovative lineup that will begin and end with vivid imagery set to music. The 2014-2015 program, continuing the nonprofit’s “symphony redefined” founding tradition, includes an array of world-renowned artists as well as two orchestral premiers.

The season for the region’s only fully professional symphony begins on Saturday, Nov. 1 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center with the United States premiere of “Brothers in Arts: 70 Years of Liberty.” The piece, which offers the melding of musical creativity from two countries to commemorate the 70th anniversary of D-Day, is scored for jazz band and orchestra and includes moving and iconic images of World War II projected above the symphony.

“Brothers in Arts” was co-composed by American Chris Brubeck and Frenchman Guillaume Saint-James and was commissioned by the Orchestre Symphonique of Bretagne in France, with additional support from the French Ministry of Culture, the U.S. State Department and co-commissions by Sinfonia Gulf Coast and the Oakland East Bay Symphony in California. The Co-Commission and U.S. premiere of "Brothers in Arts: 70 years of Liberty," was generously underwritten by a grant to Sinfonia Gulf Coast, Demetrius Fuller, Music & Artistic Director, from the Dugas Family Foundation.

Sinfonia’s annual holiday concert on Dec. 12 at Destiny Worship Center, will feature orchestral arrangements of the most popular holiday classics, with The von Trapps as guest artists. The great-grandchildren of Maria and Capt. Georg von Trapp, of the famed “Sound of Music” story, continue the family’s musical legacy as they perform with Sinfonia in this popular, family friendly concert.

Also, at Destiny Worship Center on Jan. 23, world-renowned electric violinist Tracy Silverman joins Sinfonia for the world premiere of the full-orchestra version of American composer Nico Muhly’s “Seeing is Believing.” Additional works on the program are W.A. Mozart’s overture to “The Marriage of Figaro,” from the opera of the same name, and the brilliant orchestral suite from “The Firebird” by Igor Stravinsky.

The annual chamber music weekend returns to the intimate setting of the Rosemary Beach Town Hall on March 6 and 7 and will showcase METALESM5, Mexico’s leading brass quintet. METALESM5 combines fine classical chamber music, nonstop audience interaction, inborn showmanship and their inimitable Latin American charm to create a memorable concert experience.

The season comes to an animated finale on Saturday, April 11 at the Emerald Coast Convention Center, as popular Pixar moments are projected on an oversized screen while Sinfonia performs the film’s scores. Selections include montages from all fourteen Pixar films, such as, "Toy Story," A Bug's Life," " Finding Nemo," "Cars," "The Incredibles" and more.

Sinfonia’s Seeing is Believing 2014-2015 season ticket package, which features premier seating for all five concerts, including gala table seating for Nov. 1, is available for $245 per person. All performances begin at 7:30 p.m., with the exception of “Disney Pixar in Concert,” which begins at 7 p.m. Season tickets online now.

Presenting Sponsor for the 2014-2015 Season is Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, and Presenting Concert Sponsor is La Florida Real Estate. Additional presenting sponsors include Presenting Media Sponsor VIE Magazine, Presenting E-media Sponsor SoWal.com and Presenting Accommodations Sponsors Hilton Sandestin Beach Golf Resort & Spa and ResortQuest. For more information or to purchase tickets, please go to SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 850-269-7129.