ABOUT SUMMERFEST 2009

Designed to link the artistic and cultural traditions of the world with those of Florida, Summerfest, presented by the Symphony of the Americas, is the longest music festival event to take place in Florida, and is one of the top cultural projects to be funded by the State of Florida’s Division of Cultural Affairs International Cultural Exchange Grant Programs. As a true cultural exchange, it involves both European and American musicians in joint performance for Florida citizens, as well as the visiting orchestra’s home country, and throughout the US, Central and South America. Summerfest 2008 presented by American Airlines, marks the 18th anniversary of the Festival.

This cultural exchange begins in Europe in May, with our Artistic Director, Maestro James Brooks-Bruzzese and selected musicians of the Symphony of the Americas joining an internationally renowned chamber orchestra in its home country for rehearsals, performances, workshops and recording sessions. This summer, the Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra of Miskolc, Hungary is in residence. Summerfest in the United States begins in June with this combined musical ensemble throughout the State of Florida, with outdoor beach, educational, and gala performances.

Following this, as part of the US and Florida outreach, the joined ensemble travels under the Maestro’s baton to several countries of Central and South America for public and educational performances as well as master classes. In several of the countries, these activities were presented together with local organizations such as Empressarios Juveniles, International Sister Cities, and Rotary Clubs International. US Embassies have joined this partnership in Costa Rica, Guatemala, Panama, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Haiti, Uruguay and Argentina.

Educational events reaching over 8,000 students expose and introduce the masterful sounds of American, European and Latin composers through Summerfest of the Symphony of the Americas, a United States arts organization from the State of Florida. Many have never before experienced the exhilaration of the music of great composers in live performances. Previous ensembles in residence have included the famed Hungarian Virtuosi, Arpeggione Kammerorchester, Budapest Chamber Orchestra, Mendelssohn Chamber Orchestra, Cappella Istropolitana, I Musici Estensi from Italy and the Czech Moravian Virtuosi.

Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra
Zsofia Nagy, Chairman, Ede Reményi Chamber Orchestra Foundation
Tamas Kriston, Artistic Director
James Brooks-Bruzzese, Guest Conductor

Summerfest, annually presented by the Symphony of the Americas, features an internationally acclaimed chamber orchestra joined by members of the Symphony in a cultural exchange for over 25 performances and educational activities beginning in the visiting orchestra’s home country, and continuing throughout Florida, as well as outreach performances in various cities of Central and South America. The inaugural concert of Summerfest 2009 was presented in Hungary’s spectacular Baradla Cave, a frequent concert setting.

Reményi Ede Chamber Orchestra was established in Miskolc, Hungary in 1981. Violinist, Károly Gál was the founder and music director for nearly 25 years. He is succeeded in this position by his student, Tamas Kriston. The orchestra plays a principal role in the musical life of northern Hungary, but its name is familiar in the Far East as well. It often participates in concert with the famed Boys Choir of Zurich. A majority of the orchestral members are graduates or faculty members of the Franz Liszt and Bela Bartok Conservatories. The orchestra, as a part of the greater symphonic organization, is equally at home with not only chamber music, but symphonies, oratorios and operas as well as contemporary and pop-rock music of the highest quality. Soloists and composers appearing often with the Reményi Ede include Frank Lloyd (London Philharmonic), Friedrich Reinhold, trumpet and pianist/composer Gyorgy Selmeczi among others. www.kamarazenekar.hu

Summerfest 2009 wishes to acknowledge and thank our sponsors for their support