Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra Announces ‘09-‘10 Season

NICEVILLE, FL - The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra (NFSO) at Northwest Florida State College, under the baton of Jeffrey Rink, announces its 2009-10 concert season and the availability of season tickets. The 23rd season of the region's premiere professional orchestra will include five concerts, special events and new benefits for season subscribers, award-winning guest artists, the premiere of a new work written for the NFSO, collaborative performances with the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus and more.
 
Regular season subscriptions for the 2009-10 series of five NFSO concerts are now available for $100, a more than ten percent savings over single ticket prices. NFSO season tickets are available for purchase in-person or by phone from the college's Mattie Kelly Arts Center Box office at (850) 729-6000 or online at www.nfsymphony.org. Conductor's Circle memberships, for subscribers who make a tax deductible gift of at least $250 to the symphony in addition to their purchase of the $100 season subscription, are also available.
 
NFSO Season Subscribers receive a wide variety of benefits including admittance to subscriber exclusive events such as pre-concert talks with NFSO conductor Jeffrey Rink and the Halloween Masque reception, the first opportunity to select reserved seats, an NFSO membership card and more.

Conductor's Circle subscribers receive all the benefits of regular season subscriber plus exclusive reserved parking at each NFSO concert, a complimentary beverage during NFSO concert intermission, and the new "Invite Your Friends For Free" program, through which Conductor's Circle members may receive two free tickets to an NFSO concert of their choice to share with friends. In addition, those who join the Conductor's Circle by July 1 as new or renewing members will receive two free tickets to a July 21 VIP performance of NWF State College's summer musical; Disney's Beauty and the Beast.
 
At the NFSO season opening concert, "From Russia with Love" on Sept. 26, guest artist pianist Stanislav Khristenko, the 2008 Gold Medal Winner of the prestigious Wideman Piano Competition, will perform Rachmaninov's Piano Concerto No. 3 in D minor Op. 30 with the NFSO.
 
"A Halloween Spooktacular", the NFSO's second concert event of the season on Oct. 30, will feature the premiere of a new piece composed by Jeremy Ribando, NWFSC Music Professor. The concert will also feature Saint Saëns' Danse Macabre Op. 40, Mussorgsky's Night on Bald Mountain, and Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique Op. 14.

On Dec. 11, the orchestra and the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus will present "Holiday Pops!" an evening filled with popular holiday fare.

On Feb. 19, 2010, the NFSO will present its annual "Stars of Tomorrow" concert featuring the winners of the prestigious regional Concerto Competition and performance of Kleinsinger's Tubby the Tuba featuring guest tubist Chester Schmitz, former principal tuba player for the Boston Symphony Orchestra and Boston Pops for 35 years.

The NFSO season will conclude on April 10 with "European Masters". This stunning concert features the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus and orchestra performing Mozart's final composition, and most popular and respected works, Requiem in D minor K. 626.
 
Season tickets are available through the Box Office and may be purchased by phone, mail, in-person, or online at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org. Only season packages are available for purchase now. Individual tickets for all performances dates of the NFSO will go on sale June 1. The Mattie Kelly Arts Center is located on the Niceville campus of Northwest Florida State College at 100 College Boulevard and is easily accessible via U.S. Highway 285, Highway 85 and the Mid-Bay Bridge.