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Space Coast Symphony Explores the Cosmos

If SpaceX's stream of rocket launches over the past month has you all fired up about even more space exploration, the powerful production Cosmos may be just what you're looking for.

The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra will close its 2016-'17 musical season the third in a series of innovative multi-media concerts with imagery from NASA.  Led by Maestro Aaron Collins, the program opens up with the world premiere of a new work, Cosmos, by composer Christopher Marshall, whose 20-minute work will highlight the history of flight.  New Zealander Marshall is a favorite of SCSO audiences and the seven-year Composer in Residence at the University of Central Florida. 

Performances are at on Saturday, May 27 (7:00 PM) at the Scott Center for the Performing Arts at Holy Trinity Episcopal Academy (5625 Holy Trinity Drive in north Melbourne and Sunday, May 28 (3:00 PM) at the Vero Beach High School Performing Arts Center.

Marshall's 20-minute world premier work will highlight the history of flight with special guest narrator, United States Senator Bill Nelson at the Melbourne concert. Senator Nelson grew up in Brevard and in 1986 spent six days orbiting the earth aboard Space Shuttle Columbia.

"Cosmos is the third concert in a trilogy that included The Planets and Earth Odyssey, each created with stunning onscreen images from NASA," said Collins, who won the 2016 Richard A. Stark Award for cultural leadership from the Cultural Council of Indian River County.

."The people of Central Florida have witnessed firsthand mankind's entry into space and it remains a subject of intense interest for our audience," Collins said.

The second half of the program will feature breathtaking images of distant galaxies, nebulae and other astronomical wonders on screen, set to the score of Dvořák’s Symphony No. 9, From the New WorldCosmos is rounded out with Charles Ives’ haunting The Unanswered Question

Born in France of New Zealand parents, and based in Orlando, Marshall has continued to carve out a successful freelance career, securing commissions from top performers, including most recently Summit Brass, Gail Robertson and Richard Stoezel. His music has been featured on concert programs in such venues as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the Barbican in London. His works have been performed from Austria to Australia, from Sweden to Singapore to Saudi Arabia. This summer alone will see premieres in New Zealand, Philadelphia and Denver, as well as here in Melbourne and Vero Beach.

The concert is free for those aged 18 and under or with a student ID.  $20 advance tickets are available through the orchestra website at  http://www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org or at Marine Bank & Trust (beachside and mainland branches).  Tickets at the door are $25.  For more information, call toll free to 855-252-7276 or visit http://www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org.

For more information about the upcoming Space Coast Symphony 2017-18 season or the Symphony, visit  http://www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org  or call (855) 252-7276.

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