13 Jan The Symphonia’s 20th Anniversary Season Continues with Concert III
The Symphonia, South Florida’s premier chamber orchestra, continues its star-studded 20th Anniversary Season on Sunday, February 9, with Concert III. Concert III will be held at St. Gregory’s Episcopal at 3 p.m. The concert will feature Conductor Carolyn Kuan, Bassoon Soloist Gabriel Beavers and Organ Soloist Tim Brumfield.
The program includes:
KODALY Dances of Galanta ZWILICH Bassoon Concerto MOZART Symphony No. 38, Prague
Conductor: Carolyn Kuan has conducted with some of the best orchestras, opera companies, ballet companies, and festivals worldwide. She has performed with the Baltimore Symphony, the San Francisco Symphony, the Florida Orchestra, New York City Ballet, Washington National Opera, the Santa Fe Opera, and many more. Kuan has also held numerous prestigious titles including Associate Conductor of the Seattle Symphony Orchestra, Artist-in-Residence at the New York City Ballet, and Assistant Conductor for the Baltimore Opera Company. She currently serves as Music Director for the Hartford Symphony Orchestra. Kuan’s work has been recognized with several awards; she was the first woman to be awarded the Herbert von Karajan Conducting Fellowship by the Herbert von Karajan Centrum and American Austrian Foundation in 2003.
Soloist: Gabriel Beavers is the Associate Professor of Bassoon at the University of Miami, a valued member of Miami’s Nu-Deco Ensemble, 2nd Bassoon with the Music in the Mountains Festival Orchestra, and faculty member for the Sewanee Summer Music Festival. Beaver’s previous roles include Principal Bassoon at the Baton Rouge Symphony, Principal Bassoon at the Virginia Symphony, Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Missouri-Columbia School of Music, and more. Beavers has experience performing as a soloist with the Frost Wind Ensemble, Greater Miami Symphonic band, and more. His endeavors as a bassoon soloist have also taken him to international festivals in Brazil and Japan. His solo albums, Gordon Jacob: Music for Bassoon and A Quirky Dream, are available on Mark Records and his recording of the Dinos Constantinides Bassoon Concerto was published by Centaur Records.
Soloist: Tim Brumfield has enjoyed a career as a performer, arranger, composer, and producer. He currently serves as Director of Music Ministry, Organist, and Choirmaster at St. Gregory's Episcopal in Boca Raton. Brumfield previously served as Cathedral Organist at The Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City. He has been a member of the Grammy Award winning Paul Winter Consort since 1998 and received the award of Honorary Fellow from the National College of Music in London.
Individual concert tickets start at $55 per person and are available at thesymphonia.org, by calling 561-376-3848, or by emailing tickets@thesymphonia.org.
About The SYMPHONIA
The SYMPHONIA, recognized as the region’s premier chamber orchestra, provides high-quality classical music for the enjoyment and benefit of the South Florida community. Founded in 2004, The SYMPHONIA’S performances and educational outreach programs feature nationally and internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists, enhancing the cultural lives of area residents, with special emphasis on its younger citizens. Follow on Instagram @TheSymphonia and on Facebook @SymphoniaBoca. More at thesymphonia.org.
On Wednesday, January 8, American Humane Society, the United States’ first national humane organization, held the 14th Annual Hero Dog Awards in Palm Beach and honored five dogs with remarkable stories. All proceeds raised went towards American Humane Society’s work rescuing animals affected by the California wildfires.
The Hero Dog Awards is a nationwide competition that searches for and recognizes America’s standout dogs in five categories: therapy dogs, service and guide dogs, military dogs, law enforcement and first responder dogs, and emerging hero/shelter dogs.
Beginning in June, Americans nominated hundreds of inspiring dogs from across the country and five semi-finalists in each of the five categories were chosen. After a competitive public voting process, the field of 25 was narrowed down to five incredible finalists. The winner, Bo, was then selected by a blue-ribbon judging panel. Bo is a year-and-a-half-old Bloodhound in the Law Enforcement and First Responder category who has rescued several missing people and helped police apprehend criminals using his keen sense of smell and tracking skills.
The Hero Dog Awards Gala was hosted by longtime American Humane Society ambassadors, Christie Brinkley and Carson Kressley. During the event, American Humane Society also announced a significant rebrand, including a refreshed logo, a new website, and an updated tagline: “Rescue. Care. Protect.” To reflect the organization’s expanding global efforts in animal welfare and conservation, it has also introduced an international arm as Global Humane Society.
“The Hero Dog Awards offers an opportunity for Americans to come together and celebrate remarkable dogs who make a lasting mark on our lives,” said Dr. Robin Ganzert, President and CEO of American Humane Society. “We were thrilled to honor Bo and the Hero Dog Awards finalists and to kick off the new era of American Humane Society.”
Thank you to our sponsors, American Airlines, Coleman All Natural Meats, Lulu’s Fund, Pets Best and Sam Rose, who have generously sponsored our award categories for the event.
For more information about the American Humane Hero Dog Awards®, visit 
