Sarasota Concert Association Receives
Tourist Development Cultural/Arts Grant
The $40,083 grant will help fund the organization’s 2016-2017 Great Performers Series.
(Sarasota, Florida) The Sarasota County Commission recently awarded the Sarasota Concert Association a $40,083 Tourist Development Cultural/Arts grant to help fund its 2016-2017 Great Performers Series, which runs December 2016 through March 2017. Since 1938, the Sarasota Concert Association has brought the world’s most renowned classical musicians to Sarasota County, including such superstars as Rudolf Serkin, Yehudi Menuhin, Isaac Stern, Leontyne Price, Lang Lang, Emanuel Ax, and Joshua Bell.
“The TDC grant enables us to continue bringing outstanding musicians to Sarasota County that otherwise would not have an opportunity to perform here,” says Joy McIntyre, SCA’s board president, adding that the grant funds will cover, in part, artist fees, promotion and marketing expenses.
“Reading the names of the illustrious artists and orchestras that the Sarasota Concert Association has brought to Sarasota since its founding is like reading a roll call of the greatest artists in music performance history.” McIntyre explains that, from the very start, SCA’s leaders realized that great artists and orchestras come at a high price and that the only way to keep the tickets affordable was to keep the costs of running the organization to a minimum.
“Our board includes music and business professionals who volunteer their time so that we are able to keep our subscription rates as affordable as possible,” says McIntyre. “It’s a labor of love for each of us.”
The Sarasota Concert Association’s 2016-2017 Great Performers Series season, which runs December 2016 through March 2017, features the Minnesota Orchestra; the legendary Emerson String Quartet; the National Symphony of Ukraine; the Royal Scottish National Orchestra; young piano sensation Daniil Trifonov, and a sixth concert featuring Cleveland’s famed baroque orchestra, Apollo’s Fire.
As McIntyre explains, the SCA board believes that “extending the season and adding a sixth concert creates a stronger and more consistent presence in the community. It also allows for a greater diversity of musical selections.” She adds that the organization has added the sixth concert at no extra cost to season subscribers. “This season’s bonus sixth concert will be free for subscribers, so we encourage classical music fans to subscribe early.”
Great Performers Series concerts are at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, 777 North Tamiami Trail in Sarasota. The February 22nd concert is at the Riverview High School Performing Arts Center, 1 Ram Way in Sarasota. Subscriptions for all six concerts are $180, $230, $250, $280, and $320. Single tickets go on sale after August 1. For subscription information, call 941-225-6500. Forms for subscriptions can also be downloaded at www.scasarasota.org.
SCA also presents a series of free lunchtime concerts featuring performances by high-caliber, area-based artists, November 2016 through April 2017. The series is designed to offer a wide variety of musical genres, including classical, folk, and jazz, featuring both vocal and instrumental performers. The 2016-2017 concert season will be announced soon.
About the Sarasota Concert Association
The Sarasota Concert Association (SCA) is a not-for-profit organization that seeks to foster an appreciation for the musical arts by sponsoring professional concerts, featuring a variety of quality music. This is accomplished through the Great Performers Series of world-class musicians and Munchtime Musicales, a free community outreach program. For more information about SCA, visit www.scasarasota.org.
