g o o d w i l l
Crescendo 2022 b y J e s s i c a H o l t h a u s B a d o u r
W hether you’re a local resident or a frequent visitor to 30-A, you know dining and enter- tainment is part of the culture around here. This year, the Crescendo! 2022 event paid homage to that theme with a cultural and cu- linary extravaganza for the Gulf Coast, fea- turing six vintner dinners in stunning venues, along with a main event that included world- class vintners from around the world. Now in its fifth year, Crescendo! is a “This year, for the first time ever, Crescendo! included a small ensemble from our youth orchestra, showcasing a piece of what this event helps create,” says Beth Clavier, Sinfonia’s Director of Events and Patron Services. “Students were weaved into the main performance with Ezinma; not only did they rehearse and perform with Ezinma, but all the students in our youth orchestra also received an hour-long master class with her.” Crescendo! culminated at the end of Feb 2022 with the weekend-long “Carnivale” experience, celebrating cultural and culinary arts featuring world-class vintners and spirit purveyors, incredible auction items, and an electrifying orchestra musical performance at the Hilton Sandestin Beach Resort. Leading up to the Carnivale main event was a “Vintner Dinner” event held in various elegant homes and venues throughout the Emerald Coast. Dinner guests were treated to a meal from local and regional celebrity chefs, with food pairings with some fundraising event benefitting Sinfonia Gulf Coast, the region’s only professional symphony orchestra, and its music education programs throughout Okaloosa, Walton, and Bay Counties. Crescendo! culminated at the end of Feb 2022 with the weekend- long “Carnivale” experience, celebrating cultural and culinary arts featuring world-class vintners and spirit purveyors, incredible auction items, and an electrifying orchestra musical performance.
school programs and performances for nursing home residents, at-risk children, special needs groups, and more. “We have our mission at the fore- front of our minds in everything we do: Striving to provide not only a musical, but an educational experience for our regional schools,” says Demetrius Fuller, Sinfonia Founder and Artistic Director. “The musicians not only perform, but they also interact, teach, and play; they talk about music and how it relates to history, mathematics, and even science.” Sinfonia Gulf Coast was founded in 2005 with a mission to redefine the symphony experience. The nonprofit orchestra is celebrating its sweet 16 sea- son of innovative musical programming
Photos by Desiree Gardner Photography
of the most acclaimed vineyards in the country: Darioush, Fleury Estate, Thompson 31 Fifty, Oakville Ranch, Chateau Gaby, and Frias Family Vineyards, cre- ating a truly exceptional dining experience. “Crescendo! is our largest fundraiser by far, it’s a humongous
percent of what keeps the business going, which directly impacts what we are able to provide to the community,” ex- plains Clavier. A large part of that funding bring musicians and guest artists into local schools, proffers free concerts for the community, and supports initiatives like Sinfonia’s Youth Orchestra and LINK UP concerts for 3rd-5th graders in partnership with Carnegie Hall. Outside of Crescendo!, Sinfonia has several main season events and an annual free concert. Many events (not on the public calendar) are for special groups: Local
designed to entertain, educate, and inspire the commu- nity. To date, Fuller and his team (plus a dedicated board of directors) have brought more than 600 concerts to hundreds of thousands of patrons. For more information on upcoming events, learn about becoming a volunteer or how you can support the orchestra, visit www.sinfoniagulfcoast.org or contact (850) 460-8800 and info@sinfoniagulfcoast.org.
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