It’s amazing to realize that less than half a year ago, like many of the children in the MusicWorks! Orchestra, I’d never touched a real stringed instrument before, let alone played one. And now here we were, on the stage of the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, performing to an audience of more than 1,400 … Read more
Doug LaBreque has created a prestigious touring career singing around the world with symphony orchestras. A dear friend to Gulf Coast Symphony, Doug was in our concert, From Hollywood to Broadway. We asked him a few questions about touring, music, and why he loves Southwest Florida (hint: he doesn’t miss tee time!)
Rachel York has a voice that is warm an inviting, and comes alive with great cheeriness even on a particularly miserable day in New York City. The award-winning actress may have several Broadway shows and Hollywood movies under her belt, but she still has to face the eternal annoyance of city traffic (Stars—They’re Just Like Us!) “It literally is a rat race [in New York],” she says. “They came up with that term, I think, because you constantly feel like you’re on one of those little wheels in a cage.”
York, a Florida native, is excited to be coming back to where she grew up, “Because it’s my home…anytime I’m in Florida, I just relax.” Lately, York has been traveling around the country performing with symphonies and solo concerts, which allow her more flexibility, and require less time away from her daughter.
Broadway performers Larry Alexander and Carolann Sanita will sing the songs of Irving Berlin at a fundraising gala for Gulf Coast Symphony next month.
The cabaret-style show, called “Puttin’ on the Ritz,” takes place Saturday, Feb. 4, at Gateway Golf and Country Club. The program includes Berlin classics such as “There’s No Business Like Show Business,” “Always” and — of course — “Puttin’ on the Ritz.”
The symphony will also honor longtime supporter Sam Galloway Jr. and the orchestra’s volunteer librarian, Tom Santin.
The Gulf Coast Symphony is partnering with the Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) Institute for Entrepreneurship to present a panel discussion, “Making Music Together: Immigration, Culture and Social Entrepreneurship,” on Saturday, January 14 at 11:00am at Lutgert Hall, Room 1201, on the campus of FGCU. The panel moderator is Dan Bevarly, FGCU Adjunct Professor, and panelists include Rosendo Chendy Leon, Percussionist, Sultans of String; Renata Ribeiro, Gulf Coast Symphony Musician; Sister Maureen Kelleher, Immigration Attorney with Legal Aid of Collier County; Sonia Messaoudi, Program Director, Hult Prize Competition for the Institute for Entrepreneurship; and Dr. Sandra Kauanui, Director of the Institute for Entrepreneurship.
Opera and symphony season is almost here, and local orchestras and opera companies are shaking things up in 2016-2017.
