Concerts

The Flying Horse Big Band was in flight at 1U despite rain.

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An esteemed professor filled in at piano for the first half and a visiting professional drummer for a couple of sets toward the end-in true jazz tradition. So, with jazz, there are always surprises and innovations.

The Flying Horse Big Band is under the direction of saxophonist, American jazz musician, and professor Jeff Rupert. It has played at music festivals and appears at concert halls regionally and nationally. The Flying Horse Big Band is a big band of the Jazz studies program at the University of Central Florida.

In 2005, the UCF Jazz Ensemble I performed a world premier for double big band composed by Sam Rivers. Until February 2013, it was known as UCF Jazz Ensemble 1. This band has the distinction of being one of the few college groups to have both of its first two professional recordings (2011 and 2012) on the Flying Horse Records label[1] hit the top 50 of the JazzWeek charts.

Their debut album Jazz Town climbed to 43 on the JazzWeek chart in 2011.[2] Their 2012 release, The Blues is Alright topped out at 35th on JazzWeek’s chart in March 2013.[3]

The Flying Horse Big Band on Feb 17 at 800 pm

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The Flying Horse Big Band will perform as part of the First Unitarian Church of Orlando’s Milk District Salon on Saturday, February 17, 2024, at 8:00 p.m.  Click here for tickets.  

The Flying Horse Big Band is one of the premiere performing ensembles of the UCF Music Department. It has appeared at the Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festivals, as well as numerous festival and concert appearances domestically. In 2005 the Flying Horse Big Band premiered Sam Rivers’ work for double big band, with Rivers’ RIVBEA orchestra. The group has had six recordings on the national jazz charts, a rare distinction for a university jazz band. Recordings include Jazz Town, The Blues is Alright, Into the Mystic, Big Man on Campus, The Bat Swings! And most recently Florida Rays. The last two albums climbed to #1 on the national (professional) jazz charts.  

Former members of the band include musicians now performing on the Grammy’s and various television shows in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. Several others are now professors at universities around the country.

Early bird tickets are $20 if purchased before February 12, and $27 after that. 

Music Salon on February 17, 2024 – Flying Horse Big Band

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The second concert of “The Milk District Salon at 1U” 2023-2024 music series presented by the First Unitarian Church of Orlando, The Flying Horse Big Band, is one of the premiere performing ensembles of the UCF Music Department. It has appeared at the Montreux, Switzerland, and the North Sea Jazz Festivals, as well as numerous festival and concert appearances domestically. The band has featured Randy Brecker, Bob Berg, Michael Mossman, James Moody, Nick Brignola, Harry Allen, Steve Turre, Rodney Holmes, Terry Gibbs, Marvin Stamm, Mulgrew Miller, John Swana, Kevin Mahogany, Lou Donaldson and Eric Alexander with the band. In 2005 the Flying Horse Big Band premiered Sam Rivers’ work for double big band, with Rivers’ RIVBEA orchestra. The group has had six recordings on the national jazz charts. Recordings include Jazz Town, The Blues is Alright, Into the Mystic, Big Man on Campus, The Bat Swings! And most recently Florida Rays. The last two albums climbed to #1 on the national (professional) jazz charts.

Former members of the band include musicians now performing on the Grammy’s and various television shows in Los Angeles, New York and Nashville. Several others are now professors at universities around the country. The Flying Horse Big Band recordings can be found at FlyingHorseRecords.com

Join us Saturday, February 17, 2024 at 8 PM for a big night of big band fun!

Buy tickets here:  http://tinyurl.com/BigBandMilk

For more information on The Milk District Salon at 1U series, visit https://tinyurl.com/MDSalon1UConcertSeries

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Zora! Festival Season offers many choices: Enrichment, Learning, and Entertainment

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The ZORA! festival is comprised of public talks, museum exhibitions, historical tours, stage performances, arts education programming, a humanities-based conference, and an Outdoor Festival of the Arts during January ending usually with an Outdoor Festival.

The Zora! Festival is considered America’s longest running arts and humanities event celebrating the cultural contributions of people of African ancestry throughout the Diaspora.Its name and its mission is inspired by Zora Hurston, a major black writer and childhood resident of Eatonville and adult visitor.

Zora Neale Hurston’s fame has grown since her death in 1960. She is considered a world-renowned writer and anthropologist. Hurston’s novels, short stories, and plays often depicted African American life in the South. Her work in anthropology examined black folklore. Hurston influenced many writers, forever cementing her place in history as one of the foremost female writers of the 20th century. 

To learn more about the Festival, link here.

Frida Kahlo and the Bravest Girl in the World

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Bravest Girl unnamed

Saturday, November 18, at 11 am at the Broadway United Methodist Church near 500 Harwood St.

Opera Orlando studio artists take the show on the road this season with a touring education and outreach production of this 40-minute children’s opera about Mariana, a young girl in Mexico who forms an unexpected friendship with the artist Frida Kahlo. While Frida paints her portrait, Mariana learns about friendship, belief in oneself, and overcoming her fears. 

There is free admission to the opera, but you must RSVP through the Orlando Opera (donations accepted), at https://operaorlando.org/town2023-24

AGE ADVISORY: G

*Audience encouraged to bring outdoor chairs and blankets as performance will take place outside in the Lake Eola Heights Community Garden.

“Halloween Music Service (Multigenerational Worship Service)”

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Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 10:30am

Worship Leaders: Aubrey Connelly-Candelario / Judith Stein-Farrall / Monteverde High School Choir

Calling all witches, goblins, and ghouls. The students from the Music Conservatory of Montverde Academy will be performing during the Sunday, October 29 service. Under the direction of 1U’s director of Music Aubrey Connelly-Candelario, this choir will sing and dance through a mini-concert of Halloween hits including “I Put a Spell on You”, “I’m in Love with A Monster”, “Old Black Magic”, “Thriller” and more!

See more program photos here.

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Pride Week Song at First United Methodist Church

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The music at the Pride Event on Thursday night at the First United Methodist Church in Orlando was joyous but their joy could not totally soften the sad and angry messages of the advocacy groups sharing the stage with them. LGBTQ+ people are feeling attacked and they wanted to be sure the audience understood the situation in their worlds due to the Florida legislation.

Also, I learned that all UMC churches now admit LGBTQ+ people as members on the same basis as everyone else. Thus, their churches permit same sex weddings in the church and accept ministers regardless of sexual preference. And, with this recent change, all the churches opposing gay rights have left the denomination. Photos of the Orlando Gay Chorus taken by Gaye Reese, a member of the 1U choir who reported on this event.

2023 Stronger Together Concert

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Methodists

First United Methodist Church -3rd Floor-Free

E Jackson St, Orlando, FL 32801

Oct 18, 2023 7:00 pm – 8:00 pm ET

Celebrating The Legacy of Queer Southern Trailblazers, an Official Pride Week Event! This event is a collaborative community effort in partnership with Bros in Convo, Orlando Gay Chorus, Sounds of Freedom, Descolonizarte TEATRO, #amBiORL, and Come Out With Pride, Inc.

Through artistic expression in the form of a compilation of a band and choral concert, live art performance, spoken word, and poetic monologues, our mission is to celebrate Central Florida’s LGBTQIA+ communities.. We will learn about Central Florida’s LGBTQ+ history and uplift the importance of not only diversity, but also inclusion.

Holly Near filled our hearts and our space

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The Sanctuary was packed. Church members, friends, and Holly Near lovers from as far away as Ocala showed up at First Unitarian for the Florida part of her concert tour in the southern U.S. Without her accompanist who had injured his hand, Holly sang a cappella and told stories about her activism and her songs.

A singer friend from Ottawa, Jamie Anderson, began the concert and readied the crowd for Holly. Through her music and her words, Holly reflected on  a life of “speaking out” and showing up. Caring, speaking out, and showing up are essential actions-especially in this time and place.

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