Gulf Coast Symphony

Ragtime star Joshua Henry to star in "Get Up, Stand Up!" backed by Gulf Coast Symphony on Sunday, January 25, at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

This year, there are 27 performances of this holiday favorite by eight ballet companies and three symphony orchestras.

For 15 years, Gulf Coast Symphony has opened the holiday season with “Deck the Halls” at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall. The symphony’s director and maestro, Andrew Kurtz, works hard to make the annual concert unique. He’s outdone himself this year with aerial violinist Janice Martin.

Gulf Coast Symphony opens this year’s Masterworks Series on Nov. 15 with “Symphony of Firsts.” It’s a journey through the ages conducted by Maestro Andrew Kurtz.

For 20 years, Gulf Coast Symphony has started its season at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall with a Halloween concert for children and their parents. The immersive afternoon of activities begins a 1 p.m. in the lobby, which will be converted into a haven for young witches, wizards and Muggles that includes a musical discovery zone.

Last year, Gov. Ron DeSantis vetoed $32 million in arts and culture grants that had been approved by the Florida Legislature. This year, the state’s $115.5 billion budget includes $18.3 million in arts and culture grants, but only a handful of Southwest Florida arts organizations qualified for a share of that money. For the second year in a row, 14 Lee county arts organizations were denied state funding, including the Alliance for the Arts and Florida Repertory Theatre. Each of Lee’s arts organizations is employing a medley of measures to make up for the loss of state grants.

The Gulf Coast Symphony continues to grow and offer year-round programming even as other regional symphony orchestras have closed. Gulf Coast Symphony Founder and Music Director Andrew Kurtz explains how the organization works to diversify its performance offerings and attract new audiences.

The $115.5 billion budget signed by Gov. Ron DeSantis includes more than $18 million for 184 arts organizations. Most Southwest Florida arts and culture organizations remain on the outside looking in.

A study from the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra has found that people under the age of 35 are more likely to listen to classical music than their parents.

This week, nine shows close, 12 continue their runs and there are two limited-run young actors' productions at equity and community theaters from Sarasota to Marco Island. As an added bonus, there are three performances of Frank Blocker’s “Good Jew” at the Norris Center in Naples.