Cultural Connection sponsored by Riverside Theatre

June 6: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Adam Schnell of Ballet Vero Beach, talks about the exciting upcoming season and the success of the challenging past year.  The 9th season begins when The Riverside Dance Festival arrives at Riverside Theatre on August 6 & August 7. Ballet Vero Beach is thrilled to present, in partnership with Riverside Theatre, konverjdans, an enigmatic and engaging New York City based troupe. Listen to learn more about Adam’s favorite past times and his love for the outdoors and a whole lot more.

Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church - and a lot of other things like his bagpipes performances. Jacob talks about the galleries that developed at First Pres, the music performances inclusive of the competitive Youth String Orchestra and this years participation at the Aspen Music Festival in August. Jacob has taken on the scholarship chair role with the Indian River Symphonic Association.

June 13: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Paulette Visceglia, President of VB Art Club gives an overview of the Summer Camps program and opportunities to sponsor a child for Vero Beach Arts Club Summer Camps.  Paulette talks about the momentum Gallery Stroll is experiencing after Covid  and the upcoming Art in the Park & Art by the Sea.

Ray Adams is moving forward from Indian River Charter HS. Ray discusses his role in the arts community and the changes he made to accomplish the arts programs at the India River Charter HS.

Now that he is retiring, Ray will be conducting in 2022 at Carnegie Hall.  Locally, Ray is working/performing with the First Baptist Church and performs Jazz with a Jazz trio.

June 20: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Sophie Wood of Vero Beach Museum of Art talks about the activities at the Museum. Current exhibit : A TRIBUTE TO CHRISTO AND JEANNE-CLAUDE: THE TOM GOLDEN COLLECTION On View through September 5 in the Holmes and Titelman Gallerie.  Sophie explains the large scale art that has altered rural landscapes throughout Europe, US & Japan. The wrapping of the Arch de Triumph in France is scheduled for September & October of this year.  The current exhibit articulates how this is executed. The gallery has a piece of the “Running Fence” on view.  The gallery also includes videos of the creative process. 

Summer classes for adults both in person and virtual models are available.  July 13 is the start of the second session of the 5 weeks of classes. Vero Beach Museum of Art presents its in-person summer film series

“Yes, We Cannes” with Vero Beach filmmaker Xaque Gruber in connection with the exhibition A Tribute to Christo and Jeanne-Claude: The Tom Golden Collection. 

Lynn DiMenna talks about her long career of singing and her coaching work with the Gifford Youth Orchestra, a new program.  Working with beginners, Lynn has an opportunity to develop the students ear training.  Lynn’s expertise is in song interpretation and song choice.  She matches her students with appropriate songs for their ability.

June 27: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Barbara Schlitt Ford of the Environmental Learning Center.  Barbara talks about the many summer events at ELC, and the opportunities for volunteers.  She gives some insight to the local Manatee crisis and how to help.

Dr. Crystal Bujol of the Gifford Youth Orchestra and how the Orchestra was developed, evolved and her role with a child focused program. The 18 year program currently has 59 child members and have developed a vocal coaching program and a drama programs.

July 4: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Photographer Chuck Haaland, the newest member of the Artists Guild Gallery.  Chuck talks about his life long interest in photography.  Chuck’s artistic endeavors evolved from furniture building and architectural designs & construction.  He works in the world of digital photography, and produces photographs of extraordinary quality, available on canvas and metals.

Violinist Julia Lamothe, a member of the First Pres Youth String Orchestra, who is going to the Aspen Music Festival this year. The Aspen Music Festival, a summer long festival will feature streaming concerts for viewing.  Julia talks about her family and their vast musical talents.  July 25 offers an upcoming Fund Raiser Concert.

July 11: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Michael Naffziger the Theater Director of Indian River Charter HS is currently directing One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest at Vero Beach Theatre Guild. The Cast for this production is made up of community theatre actors and student actors from the Charter HS that deliver a message of hope. The Broadway Tony Award winner will run July 14 - 25.

Aaron Collins of Space Coast Symphony Orchestra talks about Season 13 programming with 13 concerts scheduled.  SCSO was the first orchestra in the U.S.A. to perform during the pandemic with the Parking Lot Concerts running last June - December. Upcoming “Dance Party” on  July 18 features dance music works from Marquez, Rachmaninoff, and Joseph. August 8 brings Summon the Heroes, a stirring concert of music about or for the Olympics includes footage for the Olympics. August 15 offers a Free Chamber Concert at Vero Beach High School.

July 18: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Les Standiford,the Florida Author of  “Battle for the Big Top: P.T. Barnum, James Bailey, John Ringling, and the Death-Defying Saga of the American Circus”. Les discusses the 3 giants of the American circus during the golden age.  Les explains the impact of the circus history to American exceptionalism.

Kirk Funnell, the Director of Tourism & Marketing at the Indian River County Tourism, discusses the impact of arts on tourism to the community.  He has developed artists promotions through a blog series inclusive of photographers and the current Artist Spotlight in conjunction with the CCIRC. Kirk focuses on attracting tourist to the county for its rich cultural experiences as well as the beautiful of IRC.

July 25: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Adam Schnell of Ballet Vero Beach talks about the upcoming Riverside Dance Festival with its public performances on August 6 & 7.  Adam explain the evolution of "konverjdans" dance company.  Riverside Dance Festival is a 2 week intensive program with components that include outside dance companies working with students ages 10 and up, a public performance and opportunity for aspiring student to be introduced to the art of dance.  Adam continues the discussion about the educational and community outreach programs Ballet VB supports with the Learning Alliance.

Dawn Orre, Gallery Director of Art at the Emerson talks about the galleries upcoming exhibits on view in the Lobby & Foyer of the Unitarian Universal Church located at 1590 27th Ave in Vero Beach.

August 1: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

Camilo Rodriguez, Jordan Miller, and Amy Saunder of Ballet Vero Beach, Riverside Dance Festival and konverjdans.   The trio talks about the collaboration and evolution of the konverjdans dance troupe and its collaborations with Ballet Vero Beach.

Mark  Wygonik discusses his role with the CCIRC Art in Public Places program and the upcoming exhibit at the VBMA focusing on Folk Art by CCIRC member artists running October 17 - November 19 in the VBMA Patent Community Gallery.

August 1: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

CCIRC member Janet Sierzant, a local author and publisher.  Janet talks about the development of a publishing company La Maison and her direction into writing historical fictions and mysteries.

CCIRC member Barbara Hammett Glover, an artist and part owner of the Artist Guild Gallery.  Barbara’s works in oil and oil and wax.  Her walks on the beach have inspired her to capture the emotions and feelings of children.

August 15: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

David Amado and Cindy Roden of the Atlantic Classical Orchestra

David, the News Director of ACO, is also with the Delaware Symphony Orchestra.

Cindy talks about the history of the ACO and the We’re Live Again mission of the Orchestra. Upcoming season begins in January with the Chamber Series at the VBMA. Performances run through April featuring works by Gershwin, Beethoven, Mozart, Vivaldi and Tchaikovsky.

August 22: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller

Guests:  

David Heroux, Fednike Nozistene, Ethan Kinkle - New staff members at IRCHS Visual and Performing Arts Program

September 5: Cultural Connection hosted by Willi Miller
Willi discusses Arts Education with one of the Cultural Connections favorite guest Adam Schnell of Ballet VB and Debbi Arseneaux of the Learning Alliance.