arts & entertainment

Vero Beach is about to receive a free musical gift: Talented performers from the touring Astralis Chamber Ensemble will stop in Vero Beach for a concert featuring the work of European Masters on Sunday, January 28.

Their 4:00 PM concert will be hosted by the church long known for its musical outreach, First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Boulevard. Individual members of the group have received international recognition and are coming together from Texas, Atlanta and Florida to perform the European Masters concert for the community. The quartet of award-winning musicians includes Angela Massey (flute), Rachel Aguilar (violin) and spouse, Paul Aguilar (viola); and Laura Usiskin (cello). The audience for European Masters can expect to hear a program of virtuosic works by composers Mozart, JS Bach, Handel and Kuhlau. In addition, the concert will include a staple of the quartet repertoire, Mendelssohn’s D Major Quartet. The Astralis Chamber Ensemble has a core roster of select, auditioned musicians. The ensemble presents nine tours per season of over 60 programs with duos, trios, or quartets. Admission is free. For more information, call (772) 562-9088.       

Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, is anticipating a particularly fine program by the quartet of talented musicians from the Astralis Chamber Ensemble in their second Vero Beach performance. 

” This group is by far one of the finest chamber ensembles I have come across,” said Dr. Craig. “Their musicianship is certainly superlative, as is their audience engagement. Concertgoers will enjoy the players’ energy and artistry, and also the interesting explanations they provide during the concert.” 

Flute player Angela Massey is the Artistic Director and founder of the Astralis Chamber Ensemble — and also one of several new parents in the group. 

“Our Vero Beach concert will include works for the entire quartet as well as duos and solo pieces that feature each performer,” said Massey. “We will talk about all of the music selected and share the stories behind the music. We all have fairly new additions to our families as well, so our little ones are traveling with us!”

Angela Massey has been a featured soloist including appearances with the Tryon Concert Association, Kosciuszko Foundation in NYC, and abroad in France, Germany, Italy, Romania, and Switzerland. Rachel Aguilar was a founding member of the Callisto Quartet, along with her husband, Paul. Together, they have won top prizes in leading chamber music competitions, including Banff, Bordeaux, Fischoff, Melbourne, Wigmore Hall, and Manhattan International Competitions. Laura Usiskin has performed in concert halls throughout the United States and Europe, including the Kennedy Center (Washington DC), Symphony Hall (Boston), Alice Tully Hall (NYC), Carnegie Weill Hall (NYC), and the Palazzo Chigi Saracini (Italy).

The Astralis Chamber Ensemble concert is just one of many events sponsored or hosted by First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, known for its musical and artistic outreach to the Central Florida community. For a list of upcoming events or for more information about First Presbyterian of Vero Beach, visit www.FirstPresVero.org.

ABOUT THE ASTRALIS ENSEMBLE— The Astralis Chamber Ensemble is an innovative and dynamic ensemble performing with much acclaim across the globe. Through creative programming and presentations on the works performed, Astralis aims to make classical music more accessible and for audiences to make a lasting connection to the music. These award-winning musicians represent decades of experience performing across many of the world’s major venues and notable concert series. Another focus of the ensemble is to support the development of the arts through new compositions and reach communities of all backgrounds through music.  More information about the group, including individual player bios, may be found at their website, www.astralisensemble.com.

PLAYER BIOS – https://astralisensemble.com/about

ABOUT FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH– First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, founded in 1958, is a congregation of about 800 members with a vision for mission and ministry to represent the heart of the Reformed Tradition. The church serves Indian River County and beyond, covering worship and service to meet the needs of the community. It is located at 520 Royal Palm Boulevard in Vero Beach, Florida. For more information about First Presbyterian services or upcoming music or art-related events, contact the office at (772) 562-9088 or visit www.FirstPresVero.org. Under the guidance of Dr. Jacob Craig, Director of Music and Arts, the music department consists of a chancel choir, hand bell ensemble, and a comprehensive youth music program with wind ensemble, choir, and orchestra. The church also houses The Galleries at First Pres, a collection of spaces throughout the campus dedicated to a rotating collection of curated art. In addition, First Presbyterian is the home of the Vero Beach Pipes and Drums, PRIMO School of Performing Arts, and the Vero Beach Choral Society. For more information, visit www.FirstPresVero.org.