NAPLES, Fla. (February 5, 2023) – The Naples Community Orchestra will host the second performance of its 30th season on Saturday, March 4, 3:00 p.m. at Moorings Presbyterian Church, 791 Harbour Drive in Naples. The orchestra will be conducted by Alvin Ho, the new artistic director at NCO and who also serves as assistant conductor with the Naples Philharmonic. The program will feature music from Johannes Brahms and Johann Strauss Jr. In addition, the orchestra will perform Aaron Copland’s Appalachian Spring with guest pianist Bella Gutshtein.
Gutshtein has been making music since the age of six. She was born In St. Petersburg, Russia, where she received her first master’s degree in music performance, vocal coaching, and teaching from St. Petersburg Conservatory. She received her second master’s degree from the Manhattan School of Music in New York City. Since moving to Naples in 2001, she has performed as a soloist and chamber music pianist in numerous venues, including the Sypert Salon Series and the Wang Chamber Music Series at Artis—Naples. She is also a music educator, teaching music performance and appreciation throughout most of her career. Bella is a founder and artistic director of the Estero Concert Series, through which she creates innovative, multidimensional chamber music and art programs. Together with her husband, Boris Sandler, she is also a co-founder and artistic director of Camerata of Naples Chamber Orchestra.
A reception will follow the concert 4:30 – 5:30 p.m. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at naplescommunityorchestra.org. Individual concert admission is $40 per ticket. Complimentary tickets are available for students with valid student identification. Tickets will be sent to your email address. Ticket holders may print them out or have them available on a smartphone to scan at the door. Email ticket questions to tkingNCO@gmail.com.
Naples Community Orchestra’s 2023 concert finale on Saturday, April 22 will include Beethoven’s Coriolan Overture. In addition, the concert will feature Adam Satinsky on cello for Tchaikovsky’s Variations on a Rococo Theme.
The season series is influenced by the community partnerships the orchestra has forged with Artis—Naples, Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU) and Collier County Public Schools (CCPS). The orchestra welcomes the participation of student musicians from both FGCU and CCPS high schools. NCO’s partnership with Artis—Naples provides musicians for conducting, sectional rehearsals, soloists, and rehearsal and event space.
