In January, the Symphony of the Americas will celebrate 25 years of musical performances — and the fact that they are still here.
“It’s no small accomplishment for a nonprofit orchestra to achieve a milestone like our 25th anniversary,” artistic director and conductor James Brooks-Bruzzese said. “Economically, we are very fortunate to continue, in our own little way, to bring music to the people who support us. We have a wonderful community.”
To give back to that community, the orchestra has planned a full month of musical events, ending in a 25th anniversary gala at the Hyatt Regency Pier Sixty-Six in Fort Lauderdale on Jan. 25.
The events include classical music flash mobs, educational concerts in Broward County schools, contests, ticket giveaways and a full schedule of performances at venues ranging from Wine Watch, a Fort Lauderdale retail store, to the streets of Las Olas Boulevard during the annual Art Fair.
“We thought it appropriate to mark the occasion with this special musical gift,” Brooks-Bruzzese said. “Our musicians are dedicated. They love to play.”
Symphony of the Americas was formed in 1987. Composed of professional musicians from around the globe, the orchestra performs primarily at the Broward Center. Through its community outreach program in 2012, it performed in area schools for more than 20,000 children.
“A community without an orchestra is like a human being without a soul,” Brooks-Bruzzese said. “We need music, ballet, drama, opera. It is very important for our children.”
The symphony’s season runs from October through April. During the summer, orchestra members are joined by musicians from Europe and Latin America for a festival series that tours Central America. Recently, the orchestra added a series of matinee performances to their typical roster of six evening performances.
“Our goal is to extend our season,” said Brooks-Bruzzese, who noted they are playing in concert halls throughout Florida. “We average a concert a month. We are reaching out into the Weston area and in other areas north. I would like to go from six concerts to 10.”
For the remainder of the 2012-2013 season, two big events are scheduled: A performance of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto on Jan. 22 by Italian violinist Roberto Cani, winner of the Paganini International Competition, and a season finale featuring the prodigious young American pianist Conrad Tao performing all five Beethoven piano concertos in two concerts April 15 and 16.
“It doesn’t get much better than that,” said Brooks-Bruzzese. “We also have singing concerts with soloists from Milan and Australia in ‘Opera to Broadway,’ and the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida, 150 voices strong.”
The symphony has also put together an aggressive marketing program that includes a variety of partnerships extending from local restaurants and hotels to galleries and historical landmarks.
“We are taking 25 days to give a gift back to the county that allowed us to thrive for 25 years,” said Kristen Noffsinger, the symphony’s marketing and development director. “We are providing musicians to play at the ArtServe gallery, holding a wine tasting with music at Wine Watch, providing strolling violins at the Las Olas Arts Fair with a performance at Stranahan House, and organizing a mixer at Café Europa for our Young Notables group.”
Each day’s events will be announced on the orchestra’s Facebook page, Twitter account and on the website (www.sota.org). YouTube videos will be posted after every performance and online contests and other promotions will be ongoing.
The orchestra has recently partnered with Pantry of Broward County, an organization that funds food for seniors who can no longer afford to pay for groceries. For the Jan. 20 open rehearsal, they will bus in 60 seniors for the concert.
“We reach out in Florida and in Latin America when we do our summer festival,” Brooks-Bruzzese said. “It’s a 24/7 job.”
For a full schedule of events, visit www.sota.org or call (954) 335-7002.