arts & entertainment

It’s story time for kids at the Vero Beach Museum of Art—with a delightful musical twist! A wind quintet from the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra will present a musical retelling of the children’s classic, Pinocchio as part of the musical series for tots, Once Upon an Orchestra. Families can catch the fun for free at 11:00 AM on Saturday, November 8 at the Vero Beach Museum of Art, 3001 Riverside Park Drive, 32963.

Designed for preschool and kindergarten-aged children, the free 45-minute story time in the museum’s Leonhardt Auditorium will feature members of the woodwind family, including a flute, clarinet, oboe and bassoon– along with a French horn. SCSO conductor and artistic director, Aaron T. Collins will narrate the musical adventure based on Carlo Collodi’s classic tale, guiding listeners through ten short and fun movements that bring Pinocchio and his colorful friends to life. Through lively melodies and playful rhythms, the wind quintet will paint each scene, entertaining and educating the young audience about various wind instruments. Afterwards, children may meet the musicians and try several instruments. Second Saturdays at the VBMA features free admission all day. For more information about Once Upon an Orchestra, call 855-252-7276 or visit www.SpaceCoastSymphony.org.   

Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Conductor and Artistic Director, Aaron T. Collins is delighted to present the Once Upon an Orchestra concerts for kids, by way of fairy tales and fun stories. Collins is a past recipient of the Richard A. Stark Award for cultural leadership from the Cultural Council of Indian River County.

“Once Upon an Orchestra concerts at the Vero Beach Museum of Art are a lot of fun for the audience and our musicians, said Collins. “Both of our organizations share a commitment to making the arts accessible and engaging for all ages, particularly young children and families.”

The next installment of Once Upon an Orchestra at the Vero Beach Museum of Art is scheduled for the second Saturday in March 2026. Second Saturdays at the VBMA features free admission all day, plus a variety of cultural offerings, including the widely popular Museum Studios for families from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Complimentary programming such as performances, lectures, films, and related expressions of arts and humanities continue throughout the afternoon on select Saturdays. For more, visit www.vbmuseum.org.

The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is one of only a handful of U.S. orchestras to perform year-round. Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. For more information about the Space Coast Symphony 2025-26 season or the Symphony for Everyone ticket program, visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call (855) 252-7276.

ABOUT PINOCCHIO PORTRAITS FOR WIND QUINTENT: An educational composition for narrator and instrumentalists in ten short movements that depict characters and scenes from the Pinocchio story. The audience will meet Geppetto, the kind-hearted woodcarver who creates a puppet with a big dream—to become a real boy! Follow Pinocchio as he encounters tricksters like the Fox and the Cat, joins the circus with Harlequin, meets the enchanting Fairy Godmother, and tumbles into the mischief of Toyland with Candlewick. The story takes a thrilling turn when Pinocchio and Geppetto find themselves trapped inside a giant whale—before their exciting, triumphant reunion!

ABOUT VERO BEACH MUSEUM OF ART — The Museum is the largest accredited art facility on Florida’s Treasure Coast, presenting changing exhibitions of world-class art and its collection of more than 1,000 American and international art objects. It features two sculpture parks, five galleries, public programs from lectures to film studies, jazz concerts, and docent tours. The Art Zone provides hours of interactive play for kids with toys that inspire creativity, spark curiosity, and support learning.Take a break in the Café and shop the Museum Store for a souvenir from your visit. Museum admission is free on the second Saturday of each month. For more information, visit www.vbmuseum.org.

ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA— The SCSO is a lively and passionate Central Florida orchestra comprised of professional musicians, music educators and mentored amateurs of exceptional ability. The Orchestra was formed by Conductor and Artistic Director Aaron T. Collins with a two-fold mission: to provide mentoring and performance opportunities for Florida’s finest young musicians as well as to provide professional concerts at genuinely affordable prices. The ultimate goal of the organization is to help ensure the symphonic tradition for the enjoyment of future generations. The SCSO is dedicated to supporting the work of living composers and shining a light on new music. By performing and commissioning today’s brightest composers, the SCSO brings fresh, exhilarating sounds to life in the concert hall. Roughly thirty percent of all SCSO performances include a work by living composers, many of whom call Florida home. The SCSO actively promotes diversity by programming works by composers who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC). Since 2009, the SCSO has presented dozens of World Premieres and Southeastern U.S. Premieres.  

Aaron T. Collins continues to garner recognition for his achievements. LEAD Brevard named the ambitious Collins one of their “4 under 40” Young Professionals, the youngest-ever recipient of the honor. Space Coast Business magazine listed him as one of Brevard’s “100 Most Admired Businesspeople.” Collins is a past recipient of the Richard A. Stark Award for cultural leadership from the Cultural Council of Indian River County. Through his personal involvement with more than a dozen performing arts groups, pioneering reciprocal ad program and social media cross promotions, Collins has gained a reputation for generosity; championing other arts organizations throughout Central Florida for the cultural enrichment of the community. 

School-aged children 18 years and under are admitted free of charge, as are college students with a valid ID.  In keeping with their mission, the symphony provides a unique Symphony for Everyone ticketing program, a “pay-what-you-can” option designed to provide substantially discounted admission to any Space Coast Symphony concert. Relying on a non-traditional orchestra model and a slim budget, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is one of only a handful of U.S. orchestras to perform year-round. The nonprofit organization also maintains the Space Coast Symphony JAZZ Orchestra and the Space Coast Symphony Wind Orchestra, with several free performances each year. More information about the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra’s upcoming concerts, ticket sales, venues, directions and sponsorship opportunities is available at SpaceCoastSymphony.org by calling (855) 252-7276.