NFSO concert, NFSG tasting festival this weekend

If you’re looking for a way to fill your weekend with music as well as international food and wine, the Northwest Florida Symphony and its patron group, the Northwest Florida Symphony Guild, have two events planned that will help you do both.

The Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra presents its annual “Stars of Tomorrow” concert at 7:30 p.m. Friday in the mainstage theater of Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center at Northwest Florida State College in Niceville.

The family friendly concert features the orchestra in a salute to the Old West, with a presentation of Aaron Copland’s “Billy the Kid Suite,” and guest artist performances by the winners of the 25th annual NFSO Concerto Competition for young musicians.

The winners are chosen by a panel of judges, receive cash prizes ranging from $500 to $1,500, and will also perform with the NFSO at the symphony's annual concerts for all fifth-grade students in Okaloosa and Walton County.

The Northwest Florida Symphony Guild sponsors the annual competition and the cash awards.

Concerto Competition winners scheduled to perform are:

 Nicole Roman (2011 College Division winner), a junior at the University of North Florida where she is studying Music Performance under the instruction of Dr. Michael Bovenzi, will perform Glazunov’s Concerto for Saxophone in Eb Major;

 Geoffrey Stemen (2011 Senior Division Winner), a 16-year-old junior in the dual enrollment program at Pensacola State College and a piano student of Daniel Nagy, will perform the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 20 in D Minor;

 Sydney Chung (2011 Junior Division winner), a 12-year-old honor student at Liza Jackson Preparatory School in Fort Walton Beach, will perform the first movement of Mozart’s Piano Concerto No. 19 in F Major.

“The talent exhibited by the Concerto Competition winners is remarkable,” said Jeffrey Rink, NFSO conductor and music director. “Each year, our patrons are amazed with the level of performance of these young musicians. They are truly stars: of the concerto competition, of this family-friendly concert, and of tomorrow.”

Tickets for the concert are $22.50 each for adults and $16 each for youth ages 18 and younger. Active-duty military members may purchase discounted tickets for $16 each with ID. There is a $2 per ticket box office processing fee.

Call the Mattie Kelly Arts Center box office at 850-729-6000 or purchase tickets online at the center’s website at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.

The box office phone and in-person hours are 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday and 6-7:30 p.m. the evening of the concert for any available at-the-door tickets. Currently enrolled NWFSC students may receive one free ticket per student ID in person from the box office.

The NFSO performs in residence at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, where a custom orchestral shell provides an optimum acoustical experience for symphony patrons. The Mattie Kelly Arts Center is on the Niceville campus of NWF State College at 100 College Blvd.

For information about the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra, its performance schedule and the various educational programs for youth the symphony provides each season, see www.nfsymphony.org or contact call Rink at 729-6023.

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The Northwest Florida Symphony Guild is holding its 21st annual International Food and Wine Tasting 1-4 p.m. Sunday at the Emerald Coast Convention Center, 1250 Miracle Strip Parkway, on Okaloosa Island.

More than 20 restaurants and food product companies are providing food to sample. Participants include: Louisiana Lagniappe, Carrabba's, the Black Pearl, Pandora's Steakhouse, Pranzo, Off the Vine, Magnolia Grill, Aegean Restaurant, McGuire's of Destin, 790 on the Gulf, Poppy's, Aramark Catering, Ruth's Chris, La Famiglia, Cafe Organic, Woody's Hog Heaven BBQ, the Melting Pot, Outback Steakhouse, Roberto’s Pizzeria and Longhorn Steakhouse.

A variety of international wines and non-alcoholic beverages will be available to enjoy with the food.

High Voltage, an electric strings group; jazz pianist Sean Dietrich, and other area musicians will perform.

A silent auction of various donated items runs during the afternoon.

This is the Guild's major fund raiser in support of the Northwest Florida Symphony, its performances and educational programs for local schools, the annual Concerto Competition for young musicians, and the Youth and Junior Symphonies, including the High Voltage group. Of each ticket sold for the festival, $25 goes to these endeavors and is tax deductible.

Tickets will be sold (cash only) for $40 at the door. Advance purchase tickets are available for a discounted price of $35 at these locations: Bayou Books in Niceville; Chan's Wine World at Publix Shopping Center, and Kitchenique at City Market in Destin; and Magnolia Grill, Playground Music Center and Vandegriff Jewelers in Fort Walton Beach.

For more details, call 621-4093, 244-3433 or 621-7377.

The Northwest Florida Symphony Guild raises money not only to support orchestra performances by the symphony but also helps underwrite educational programs to help develop opportunities for area students to perform and to hear classical music.

The Guild organizes and raises the prize money for the concerto competition whose winners are featured in the symphony's “Stars of Tomorrow” concert. The Guild makes donations to the Youth Symphony, the Junior Symphony, and High Voltage electric strings group, all directed by Liz Aylor.

It helps underwrite special theater performances of the Stars of Tomorrow concert for area fifth-grade students and also school visits by classical musicians. The Guild contributes to the “KATS” (Kids At The Symphony) program, which gives tickets to local students and family members to attend different season orchestra performances.