Beach United hosts formal concert
A new year offers new challenges, hope, re-birth… and new tastes. How about listening to a musical ensemble of four string instruments?
The Southwest Florida Symphony Palm Strings String Quartet will be presenting its first formal concert on Fort Myers Beach at Beach United Methodist Church on Monday, Jan. 11, at 7 p.m. The concert will be held in the sanctuary of the church at the 155 Bay Rd. location, directly behind the Fort Myers Beach Library.
The popular quartet is made up of four principal players from the Southwest Florida Symphony: Hannah Cho, assistant concertmaster and principal violinist; Danut Muresan, violin 2; Rachel Cox, former principal viola; and Susannah Kelly, principal cello. They are often heard prior to Symphony concerts at Barbara B. Mann and have a rich background history together, according to Dr. Douglas Renfroe, the Director of Music and Fine Arts at BUMC.
“They do have a rich individual history,” said Renfroe. “But, they’ve been playing consistently together throughout Florida before all the concerts for more than 2 1/2 years.”
The Palm Strings concert is expected to draw more than 200 people in the church sanctuary, which seats a maximum capacity of 300. It will be the first string quartet program offered and the second in the church’s Hibiscus Series for the 2009-10 season.
Renfroe, the creator of this Hibiscus series, started the concerts in 2008 as “a means to offer concerts and fine arts at Beach United Methodist Church.” He said they have included vocal and combined voice and cello presentations, and, most recently, a program featuring harp.
Renfroe promises surprises at each concert and guarantees that another one will occur in Monday’s event as well. The concert is expected to include guest vocals by the director.
“It’s awkward because I sound like I’m patting myself on the back, but I always get huge turnouts when I’m singing solo throughout the area,” he said. “One of the things we’re working on is some of the (George) Gershwin for me to do a little guest spot on.”
Renfroe says Monday’s concert will feature “music to meet everyone’s tastes” not just the traditional classical draw. Expect music from Porgy and Bess as well as from the 1940s and 1950s decades.
“Classical music doesn’t appeal to everybody,” said Renfroe. “(The string quartet) really tries to do programming that is not just classical music. They are looking at doing some jazz arrangements and dance music.”
Renfroe explained there will be an opportunity for concert goers to ask questions about the quartet’s instruments and their musical growth as individuals.
“This focus is part of the outreach to attract younger children into the world of music and performing arts,” said Renfroe. “Quite often we will have give-and-take opportunities with them. Younger people will be invited up as part of the concert just to get the interest generated on the performing arts.”
A free will offering will be collected to offset the expenses. A reception will follow the concert and is open to everyone in attendance.
Next up in the concert series: a full choral and chamber music concert will be presented on Feb. 8, and will feature soprano soloist Johanna Fincher as guest artist.
Dr. Douglas Renfroe contributed to this report