July 10, 2014
MEDIA CONTACTS
General: Katherine Oarr, program coordinator: 941-351-7467
Media: Su Byron § [email protected]
The Sarasota Concert Association Presents The 2014-2015 Munchtime Musicales Series
This popular series of free lunchtime concerts showcases a variety of musical styles performed by outstanding regional artists.
(Sarasota, Florida) For 70 years, the Sarasota Concert Association (SCA) has presented its “Great Performers Series,” filling the Van Wezel Performing Arts Center with audiences who enjoy some of the world’s finest classical music at very affordable prices. This season’s edition promises to be another outstanding one with a notable lineup of highly regarded orchestras and soloists. The season also includes a 70th anniversary dinner and concert at the Historic Asolo Theater, featuring acclaimed pianist and composer Dick Hyman. (See attached release.)
In addition to the Great Performers Series, the organization offers the free “Munchtime Musicales” series, a long-running, community outreach program designed to showcase the talents of locally based, accomplished musicians who represent a vast array of musical styles, including classical, folk, jazz and pop. The series is coordinated by Katherine Oarr, a board member of SCA. Oarr says that the series has become one of the area’s more popular musical programs.
“It’s extremely rewarding to engage and support the outstanding artists who live and work in our region,” says Oarr, adding that the Sarasota Concert Association is, “pleased to continue making this important contribution to the cultural enrichment of our community.”
The 2014-2015 Munchtime Musicales concert season features Richard Ridenour, a concert pianist who has built a formidable career as an arranger and performer for orchestras across the nation, and who also spearheaded last season’s “Sarasota Keys” public piano project in downtown Sarasota (November 19, 2014); the Marc Mannino Jazz Quartet, featuring veteran jazz guitarist Marc Mannino performing with drummer Bob Lunergan, bassist Perry Orphanella, and saxophonist Rodney Rojas (December 10, 2014); Heqing Huang and Emily Charlson, two young Florida pianists who took first and second place at the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota’s 2014 Competition for Piano (January 21, 2015); the Sarasota Mandolin Orchestra, an orchestra conducted by Paul Wolfe, co-founder of the Sarasota Music Festival (February 18, 2015); Studio Artists from the Sarasota Opera, Sarasota’s ambassadors of opera who bring opera to stages beyond the walls of the Opera House (March 18, 2105); and the State College of Florida Chamber Choir, an 18-person vocal ensemble that performs a repertoire spanning from Renaissance madrigals to contemporary jazz (April 8, 2015).
All Munchtime Musicales performances are at noon at the Beatrice Friedman Symphony Center, 709 N. Tamiami Trail, Sarasota. The series is free and open to the public. Seating is open; no reservations taken. For more information about Munchtime Musicales, call 941-351-7467 or visit www.sarasotaconcertassociation.org.
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 presentations not otherwise available in the community. The SCA endeavors to set ticket fees as reasonably as possible, in order to make the performances available to a wide audience. It provides outreach to all members of the regional community by offering a series of free concerts, Munchtime Musicales, held from November through April every year. For more information about SCA, visit www.scasarasota.org.
