Space Coast Symphony goes to drive-up summer series
For months, the silence has been deafening. “We had to scrap our concerts from March through May,” said Aaron Collins, director of the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra.
As was the case with most arts organizations, the Brevard County-based orchestra was hit hard by the outbreak of COVID-19. But the band is finally getting back together, so to speak, with a summer series of “drive-up” concerts. Beginning July 10, audiences will be able to enjoy the symphony from the safety of their cars at outdoor venues.
“I don’t think any other group has done something like this,” said principal clarinetist Jennifer Royals.
Collins, 38, was uncertain in those first days whether any performances were going to happen this year at all. “There was despair for sure,” he said. “Influx, with the unknown, we didn’t know if we would continue this way … I think about two months ago, we were just trying to contemplate how we were going to have our season.”
A Vero Beach native, Royals is also the VP of the board of directors for the symphony, as well as the education coordinator. But it was performing to which she was desperate to return. “For the first month, I was pretty depressed,”
said Royals. “I didn’t touch my clarinet for almost a month, which is not normal for me.
“For us, it isn’t just a job. It’s something that we love to do. So we aren’t just losing income. We’re losing something we’re passionate about.”
With all the avenues for performance cut off, Collins said the situation was dire. “Everyone’s been laid off and all the entertainment organizations they’ve played with are kaput right now,” he said. “We had to brainstorm what we can do for our musicians.”
One of the challenges to staging concerts is just finding a place where they could keep everyone, audience and orchestra, safe. “Most arts organizations don’t own their own venues,” said Collins.
The idea came to Collins from memories of a film series he attended in childhood. “I remember when I was a kid they would have a Friday night movie out on a big screen,” he said. “I think it was a church parking lot. I have fond memories of that.”
At the performances, Friday shows in Vero Beach and Saturdays in Viera, the orchestra will be on a covered stage. The audience will be able to sit outside of their car and hear the concert through speakers, or stay in their cars and pick up on a chosen radio frequency. “Sound is obviously an issue to make sure everyone can hear the concert properly,” said Collins. “From a technical standpoint, I think we’re in pretty good shape in terms of the sound of the orchestra.”
Safety for the orchestra was also important. “We’re going to be spaced much further apart than we normally are,” said Royals. “And we’re going to have acrylic barriers that we can put up.”
Royals, 42, acknowledged that it isn’t just the music she’s excited for. “We’re like a family orchestra,” she said. “We all get along well. And we haven’t seen each other since February.”
Each of the three summer concerts will be dedicated to a different group. The first show, On Broadway, goes out to first responders and health care workers. On Aug. 14-15, Sweet Land of Liberty will be dedicated to the military and veterans. And Broadway Gender Bender featuring singers from the Central Florida Vocal Arts will close out the series on Aug. 28-29 with a dedication to essential workers and educators.
As rehearsal time is hard to come by, Royals said much of the music was chosen to streamline the process of learning and performing for the orchestra. “We’re not going to bust out a Mahler symphony on one rehearsal,” she said. “But it’s a lot of fun, lighthearted music that will hopefully lift everyone’s spirits that’s involved.”
Collins is hoping the novelty of watching a live concert from a car might generate some new fans. “Our mission is to reach people who’ve never gone to concerts,” he said. “We’re known as the symphony for everyone. So I think this is a cool concept that will hopefully connect with people who normally wouldn’t try something like this.”
The group is also counting on music fans being as hungry as the musicians to get back out. “We have an attentive audience now,” said Collins. “Everyone is starving for something to do.”
Royals said she’s going to miss the personal connection she normally has with the audience. “It will be different looking out over a sea of cars instead of audience members,” she said. “Usually during these concerts, we go out at intermission or after the concert and talk to the audience. I have a lot of friends I’ve made through these concerts.”
Still, she has faith that the shows will be a good time. “The people that know us know our concerts are so full of energy,” she said. “I would encourage people who haven’t been to one of our shows to come out and see what we’re all about.”