American landscapes portrayed through music at Sinfonia show

Sinfonia continues to celebrate the music of America during its sixth season of innovative musical programming as the region’s only fully professional symphony orchestra.

On Feb. 3 at 7:30 p.m., Sinfonia presents the Florida premiere of Dave & Chris Brubeck’s “Ansel Adams: America” at Emerald Coast Convention Center.

The concert will also feature Naumberg award-winning pianist Anthony Molinaro performing Gershwin’s timeless classic “Rhapsody in Blue,” and Grammy award-winning harmonicist Howard Levy in the Southeast U.S. premiere of his own “Concerto for Harmonica and Orchestra.”

"Ansel Adams: America” is a symphonic tribute saluting one of America's most cherished artists. The 22-minute, one-movement piece fully integrates sweeping melodies with 102 striking images of or by Ansel projected above the orchestra.

Few people realize that Ansel Adams trained to be a classical musician, a fact that greatly influenced the work and this is the first time permission has been given by the Ansel Adams Trust to allow his masterful American photographs to be used in a concert setting.

Since his victory at the 1997 Naumburg International Piano Competition, Anthony Molinaro's stunning performances and unique versatility have captivated audiences and critics alike. Acclaimed for his "edge-of-the-seat brilliance" and "musically imaginative mind," Molinaro's performances have taken him to major music centers throughout the world.

Grammy award-winning Howard Levy is an acknowledged master of the diatonic harmonica, a superb pianist, innovative composer, recording artist, bandleader, teacher and producer. Equally at home in jazz, classical music, rock, folk, Latin, and world music, he brings a fresh lyrical approach to whatever he plays and has collaborated with the likes of Kenny Loggins, Dolly Parton, Paquito D’Rivera, Styx, Donald Fagen, and Paul Simon. As a sideman, Levy has appeared on hundreds of CDs and played on countless movie soundtracks, but is best known for his four recordings with Bela Fleck and The Flecktones.

Both guest artists will join Chris Brubeck in select schools throughout Okaloosa and Walton counties the week of the performance for Sinfonia’s Guest Artists in the schools initiative.

Since 2006, Sinfonia has reached more than 30,000 schoolchildren. For more information, to purchase tickets, or to make a contribution, visit www.SinfoniaGulfCoast.org or call 850-269-7129.