The Venice Symphony will conclude its 2019-20 season with two more sold-out concerts, “Songs from the Stage and Screen with Linda Eder” in March and “The Movie Maestro: A Salute to John Williams” in April. The Symphony will round out the season with a signature fundraiser and its second outdoor concert at CoolToday Park in North Port.   

The Symphony will raise funds for its renowned music education programs at Jazz with Pizzazz: The Roaring Twenties, 11 a.m. on March 22 at Plantation Golf and Country Club in Venice. This popular annual event is known for its bountiful buffet brunch and upbeat entertainment. Returning this year are Sarasota’s Joe Bruno and the Dixieland Hot Dogs with vocalist Nancy Pastore performing jazz music from the 1920s. There will also be a “bathtub gin and more” raffle (but don’t tell the Feds!). Tickets are $80 and available by calling  (941) 207-8822, or at The Symphony’s website. Presenting Sponsor is Gulf Coast Community Foundation; Exclusive Magazine Sponsor is Sarasota Magazine.

On May 23 at 7:30 pm, Music Director Troy Quinn and The Venice Symphony orchestra return to CoolToday Park for the second annual Patriotic Pops Concert and Fireworks, presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County. Last season’s concert brought nearly 3,000 people to the brand-new Atlanta Braves Spring Training facility and this year’s concert.  “We were thrilled to be one of the first local arts and culture organizations to partner with Braves Spring Training last year and overwhelmed by the excitement generated by this concert,” says Christine Kasten, Executive Director of The Venice Symphony. Maestro Quinn has put together an extraordinary program of standards, a salute to veterans, film music and songs by Elton John, Lee Greenwood and John Williams. We are also proud to welcome back our vocal soloist, Sgt. First Class Randy Wight, who fans called “electrifying” and “unforgettable.” Tickets go on sale at ticketmaster.com on March 18 and group tickets and sponsorships are available now by calling (941) 207-8822. 

The Venice Symphony will be officially announcing its 2020-21 season later this month, and Troy Quinn promises an “even more exciting season with a powerful mix of masterworks, modern classics and popular favorites.”  The Symphony’s season premiere is on November 20, 2020, at the Venice Performing Arts Center, with seven concert weekends through April 24, 2021. We can’t “Tell” you all about it yet, but get ready for a season of spectacular soloists, award-winning film music and some “Marvel-ous” works never played by The Venice Symphony before. Several of the concerts will be accompanied by video, images and interactive experiences.  Single tickets and online sales begin August 24, 2020, but don’t wait until then. Sign up here to receive the 2020-21 season brochure and ticket order form by mail this month. 

Finally, The Venice Symphony is getting ready for its annual Summer Music Camp, June 8-19 at Student Leadership Academy in Venice. Established in 1990, the camp welcomes students from Kindergarten through high school,  who want to improve their skills as young musicians and try new instruments. “Whether you’re a violinist in our Youth Orchestra or a second-grader deciding which instrument to play, this camp is for you,” says Tim Ferguson, The Venice Symphony’s Director of Education.  “We offer instruction in strings, percussion, brass, keyboard, harp, chorus, music history, musical theater and so much more,” he said. Camp concludes with the students performing in a recital at the Venice Performing Arts Center for friends, family and the public. Half-day and full-day programs are offered, and scholarships are available.

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