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Summer, and life is easy for the Brevard Symphony Orchestra, even if the powdered wigs are part of it. The orchestra’s “Summer Evening Series” and 4th of July Patriotic Concert provide the perfect opportunity to spend a warm summer evening listening to cool music.

Summer evening series

With the return of chamber music from the BSO Summer evening seriesthe musicians will wear powdered wigs and appropriate badges for one of three concerts in the series, which begins at 7 p.m. on Saturday, June 18. The remaining concerts will take place at 7 p.m. on July 16 and August 13.

Betty Lou Steen-Clarke, loyal patron of the BSO, is already motivated for the three concerts.

“The Summer Evenings series is a wonderful opportunity to continue enjoying live classical music,” said the Melbourne Beach resident.

“The place is close and personal and a bit more intimate.”

Steen Clark is right. Concerts are presented as general admission at Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Rd.

“These concerts are more intimate in nature due to the size of the ensembles that perform,” said maestro Christopher Confessore.

“I invite musicians who play in the various small ensembles to perform on the series and it’s up to the musicians to select the specific music they will perform.”

The number of performers varies from five to 17, depending on the concert. That’s quite different from the 65-70 musicians involved in the BSO’s “Signature Six” concert series throughout the year.

To kick off the series, the BSO Woodwind Quintet featuring the main cast of the BSO will present a program of music from Maurice Ravel, Valerie Coleman and more. On July 16, the BSO presents “Nova Baroque,” ​​a program featuring Italian Baroque favorites performed in costume, powdered wigs and all. The August 13 closing concert features string orchestra favorites from Mozart, Grieg, Tchaikovsky, Newbold and many more.

“Each concert gives our unique ensembles the opportunity to shine by presenting a wide variety of musical repertoires and styles,” Confessore said.

The “Summer Evenings” series had just launched when the pandemic hit. 2022 marks the third year of this popular series.

“The series also gives you the opportunity to see friends and meet new friends while enjoying a conversation about the performance and the beautiful music, of course, after the performance,” Steen-Clarke said.

Tickets for each concert are $25 or $60 for the three-concert series. Buy at brevardsymphony.com/bsosummerevenings. Seats are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis, so arrive early for the best seats.

Symphony under the stars

The orchestra is also pleased to announce the return of its beloved 4th of July concert to Cocoa’s Riverfront Park. The concert, free for attendees, begins at 8 p.m. on Independence Day, followed by a fireworks display at 9:15 p.m.

At 6:30 p.m., supporters, musicians and BSO staff can participate in the VIP BBQ at the Cocoa Civic Center. Tickets, which cost $60 for subscribers and $75 for non-subscribers, include dinner, dessert, reserved parking and reserved concert seats. Buy at brevardsymphony.com/symphonyunderthestars.

In this Space Coast tradition for more than 30 years, Confessore leads the BSO in a program of patriotic favorites.

“I absolutely count the Independence Day concert as one of my favorite events on our schedule,” he said.

“We reach our largest and most diverse audience, where we recognize and thank our veterans and first responders as we celebrate our nation’s independence,” he said.

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