Highlights
The Symphony of the Americas, South Florida's last remaining full-sized professional classical orchestra entered its 20th season in the fall of 2007, continuing its mixture of traditional repertoire and serious music from Latin America. Although SOTA has been overshadowed during much of its existence by higher profile operations such as the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, the ensemble based in Broward County, Florida has survived the economic ebbs and flows that sank other companies. Its annual budget is about $1 million, but the organizers are eying expanded operations and fund raising to double the budget. The organization now provides at least 150 services (rehearsals, performances, etc.)...
The Symphony of the Americas, South Florida's last remaining full-sized professional classical orchestra entered its 20th season in the fall of 2007, continuing its mixture of traditional repertoire and serious music from Latin America. Although SOTA has been overshadowed during much of its existence by higher profile operations such as the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, the ensemble based in Broward County, Florida has survived the economic ebbs and flows that sank other companies. Its annual budget is about $1 million, but the organizers are eying expanded operations and fund raising to double the budget. The organization now provides at least 150 services (rehearsals, performances, etc.) for its musicians, making it one of the busiest ensembles in the region. Its primary season is a six-concert main stage series at the Amaturo Theatre, the smaller of the two halls at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. But the Symphony of the Americas performs individual "runout" concerts at condos and for private events throughout South Florida, and is the orchestra for the Coral Ridge Presbyterian Church's music series. It also features an off-season series called Summerfest that plays in 15 cities across all three South Florida counties and, in 2007, in Argentina and Panama. While the group does not perform regularly in Central and South America, its staff charters field trips there to discover new and old works to add to the repertoire. Ironically, the demise of other classical music groups has meant that Symphony of the Americas has had a larger and more skillful pool of local talent to choose from. Some critics believe that improved the occasionally erratic quality of performance of the early 2000s several notches. The current ensemble can swell from 40 members to 60 when the piece demands it. Artistic director and chief conductor James Brooks-Bruzzese and executive director Renee Labonte have led the organization since 1987 when it was called Symphonia Virtuosi Orchestra and Chorus. But the title did not trip off the tongue easily and the group changed its name in 1994, inspired by the first Summit of the Americas being held in Miami. By that time, co-founder and director Roger McMurrin had retired, ending the regular choral facet of the repertoire. Bruzzese, 67, who helped found a local chamber orchestra in the 1970s with Labonte, has been a guest conductor for the Fort Lauderdale Symphony, co-founded the local youth symphony and briefly headed a Florida Atlantic University symphony. The symphony's business office is located at 199 N. Ocean Blvd., Suite 200 in Pompano Beach, Florida.
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Calendar of events
Forum Publishing GroupDecember Annual B'nai Aviv Holiday Boutique – 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 3. Jewelry, crafts, clothes, toys, home decor, personalized items. Call 954-384-6605 or visit www.bnai aviv.org. Weston Christian Academy Winter Wonderland Festival – 5 to...Tags: Theater, Recreational and Sporting Goods Industry, Christianity, Marathon, Schools
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Society Scene Events Calendar for Broward County
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Society Scene Events Calendar for Palm Beach County
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Weston Philharmonic Society opens new season
Special CorrespondentThe curtain is going up on a new season for the Weston Philharmonic Society. The nonprofit group, which looks to enrich the community through arts and culture, is hoping to bring in a new legion of fans. "We are a foundation that is dedicated to bringing...Tags: Halloween, Music Industry, Music, Pembroke Pines
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Weston celebrates Halloween with three events in October
Forum Publishing GroupAs Halloween approaches, many parents are beginning to explore fun ways to celebrate the holiday without going from house to house. Three big events will occur in Weston during the Halloween weekend, offering parents and children plenty of safe...Tags: Children, Charity, Health and Safety at School, Endangered Species, Healthcare Provider
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Classical Music Preview
South Florida Sun-SentinelYear One of the promised New Cultural Age bleeds into Year Two this week, and South Florida still looks much as it did in B.C. -- Before Carnival. As did the Tampa and Broward centers, the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts stumbled out of the...Tags: Palm Beach Opera, Theater, New World Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, Fort Lauderdale
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Theater calendar
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Classical calendar
South Florida Sun-SentinelOCTOBER Today -- New World Symphony Chamber Music Series. Orion String Quartet. Nielsen, Grieg, Mendelssohn, 3 p.m. Lincoln. Today -- Frost Chamber Players. Bruch, Schubert, Bartok, Gershwin, 3 p.m. Festival Miami at Gus-Hall. 10 -- Frost Symphony...Tags: Theater, Palm Beach Opera, New World Symphony, Florida Grand Opera, Miami Beach
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Pop calendar
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