Orchestra strives to be ‘Symphony for Everyone’ with varied pricing, programming
(Merritt Island, FL) August 20, 2011 – The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra (SCSO) has announced its 2011-12 Season, presenting a hugely ambitious and wide-ranging collection of 16 concerts featuring great works from classical and contemporary genres, orchestral masterworks, guest artists from far and near and collaborations with local Performing Arts organizations.  Known for their exuberant playing style and innovative concerts, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra will challenge audiences in 2011-12 to ‘Be Inspired’ with a vastly diversified musical offering and flexible ticket pricing.  Concert details are online at www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org, with Season tickets, Flex Ticket packs and individual advance tickets now available.  The majority of concerts will be performed in the Scott Center at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy in north Melbourne/Viera.

The Masterworks Series concerts are filled with “the best of” the classical canon; orchestral literature including Franck’s Symphony in D minor, Shostakovich’s Cello Concerto No. 1, Respighi’s Fountains of Rome & Pines of Rome, Vaughan Williams’ London Symphony, Prokofiev’s Violin Concerto No. 1, Copland’s Appalachian Spring, Gershwin’s Piano Concerto in F, and Verdi’s epic Requiem featuring a chorus of one hundred and fifty.

The Sunday Afternoon Series are for those who prefer their concerts in the afternoon.  Packed with light classics, the series is perfect for families, beginners, and even the most demanding of connoisseurs.  Performances include an unstaged version of Meredith Wilson’s The Music Man featuring a cast of fifty and an enlarged pit orchestra, “The Three Tenors and “French Classics” which will highlight Bizet’s masterwork, Carmen.

The Opera Series will treat Brevard residents to a taste of grand theatrics.  This Season, the SCSO will present Puccini’s gripping masterpiece Tosca as well as Gilbert & Sullivan’s humorous and ever-popular The Gondoliers.   The unstaged productions will be presented with the full orchestra, chorus, and soloists.

A Night at the Movies, as the name suggests, is a series with a focus on film music. The first of its kind in Florida, A Night at the Movies is an innovative pairing of film scores and suites with images and film scenes on screen.   The series will launch with “Out of this World!:  Sci Fi Favorites” which will include Star Wars, E.T, 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Star Trek.

The Jazz Series by the SCSO will introduce the ‘Space Coast Jazz Orchestra,’ featuring the finest jazz musicians throughout the Southeastern United States.  The series will highlight favorite selections from the genre’s biggest stars and legends, promising the best jazz concerts in Central Florida.

The Holiday Series proves once again the SCSO’s leadership in Holiday programming.  Concert-goers will unlock the heart of the holidays with timeless celebrations which include the ultimate participatory Christmas concert, Handel’s Messiah Sing-Along.  “A Leroy Anderson Christmas” will be the feel-good hit of the Season, while “A Stan Kenton Merry Christmas” with Duke Ellington’s Nutcracker Suite will be presented in collaboration with the Galmont Ballet Company.

The Symphony in the A.M. series is coming soon.   The Symphony in the A.M. will be an informal group of light classics for the morning hours.  Coffee and doughnuts will be served in the lobby one hour before each concert – the perfect complement to music in the morning.

The orchestra is delighted to welcome a fabulous array of guest artists for the 2011-12 Season, including cellist Michael Wiseman, violinist Suliman Tekalli, violist Carey Moorman, baritone Stephen Mumbert, soprano Eliza Dopira, clarinetist Jennifer Royals, pianist Jeffrey Biegel, the Space Coast Chorus, and the Galmont Ballet.

Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Artistic Director, Aaron Collins, describes the multiple offerings with enthusiasm.

“This amazing lineup of 16 concerts will allow the orchestra and the audience to celebrate all aspects of music,” said Collins.  “It embraces all genres.”   He continued, “And with our flexible new ticket pricing, everyone can afford a Space Coast Symphony concert.”

The Symphony for Everyone outreach program provides up to four discounted tickets per concert for music lovers on a tight budget.  Since its inception, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra has made affordable symphonic music an important part of its mission. To that end, concert-goers aged 18 & under are admitted free of charge to any SCSO concert.  While advance tickets to all Space Coast Symphony concerts are reasonably priced at $20, the new Symphony for Everyone program will ensure no one is ever turned away from a symphony performance.

Conductor Aaron Collins shares his thoughts on the new Symphony for Everyone program.

“These are tough times for a lot of us, including myself,” said Collins.  “But we don’t want a ticket price to stop anyone from attending a concert.  It doesn’t get better than a live performance and I want to see that everyone is able to experience that, no matter what their financial situation.”

Since May of 2009, the Space Coast Symphony has provided over eighty-five free chamber concerts throughout Central Florida.  In 2011/12, the SCSO will continue this cultural outreach by presenting a dozen or more free concerts in the community, including an expanded selection of outdoor Concerts in the Park, presented in partnership with the Suntree Master Homeowners Association.

Season tickets to all sixteen concerts including Masterworks, Sunday Afternoon, Opera, Friday Night at the Movies, Jazz, and Holiday series’ are $225, a savings of over 40% .  Those looking for even more choices can purchase Flex Tickets in packs of 5 or 10 and create their own Season. Flex Tickets are good toward any Space Coast Symphony Orchestra concert.

For more information about the Space Coast Symphony 2011/12 performing Season and ticketing, please visit www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call (321) 536-8580.