BOCA RATOn, FL — “Music is our common language. We all speak it and love hearing it. No matter what our background, it is so important that we bring music to the minds and ears of young people so they will grow with music in their soul as they meet life head on.”

With those poignant words, Madelyn Savarick ushered in a new era of classical music in Boca Raton as the newly formed Boca Raton Philharmonic Symphonia recently made its debut as part of the 2nd Annual Michael & Madelyn Savarick Classical Concert Series under the stars at the Count de Hoernle Amphitheater at Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

More than 800 people, including several area music students, heard the newly-formed resident orchestra perform “Mendelssohn’s Italian Symphony” under the direction of Albert-George Schram, resident conductor at Lynn University. The piano soloist was Heather Coltman, chair of the Department of Music at Florida Atlantic University. Schram conducted the last concert of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra before it disbanded less than two years ago.

“It was a truly remarkable evening. The turnout was excellent, the weather was perfect and the performance was spectacular,” said Wendy U. Larsen, chair of the board of directors for the Center for the Arts at Mizner Park, which organized the series. “Classical music is back in Boca Raton.”

“It is wonderful to be a part of this great cultural series. Events such as these really bring a lot of excitement to the city,” said Joseph J. Rauenhorst, President and CEO of Opus South Corporation, which sponsored the dessert reception. Opus is developing The Meridian at One North Ocean at Palmetto Park Road.

The Symphonia, which is composed primarily of musicians who were former members of the Florida Philharmonic Orchestra, performed Copland's Fanfare for the Common Man, Brahms' Hungarian Dances, Grieg's Piano Concerto in A minor, Lehar's The Merry Widow Favorites and the concluding piece, Sousa's Stars and Stripes Forever among other selections.

Conductor Bryce Seliger	Piano Solist Roberta Rust

The Symphonia will perform the third show of the four-part series – “International Selections” – on March 12, 2005, 7:00 p.m., at the Count de Hoernle Amphitheater at Mizner Park in Boca Raton. The guest conductor will be Bryce Seliger, director of orchestral and conducting studies and music director/conductor of the Florida Atlantic University Symphony Orchestra. The piano soloist will be Roberta Rust, who currently serves as artist faculty for piano and professor of music at the Lynn University Conservatory of Music.

Series subscriptions, individual and group tickets are available for purchase in person only through the Centre for the Arts at the Amphitheater Box Office (561-750-1668), through Ticketmaster by phone at 561-966-3309 and online at www.ticketmaster.com. Tickets are $30, $20 or $12 (plus applicable fees) and Patron Packages are available for $500 each. For more information about these concerts or other events, please contact the Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park at 561-368-8445 or visit www.centre4artsboca.com.

Located in Mizner Park, the Centre is currently developing a three-phase project on the north end parcel of land at Mizner Park, which when completed will include the Boca Raton Museum of Art (Phase I, completed January 2001), the Count de Hoernle (outdoor) Amphitheater (Phase II, completed November 2002) and the indoor performing arts hall and arts education building (Phase III). To date, the amphitheater has presented more than 115 programs, attracting 250,000-plus participants.

For more information about these concerts or other events, please contact the Centre for the Arts at 561-368-8445 or www.centre4artsboca.com.