Boca Raton Symphonia Taps Three New Board Members: Silva Hristov Alexandrov, Kyle Prescott And June Gelb

Sylva Hristov  Alexandrov

Kyle Prescott

 June Gelb

The Board of the Directors of the Boca Raton Symphonia, Boca’s Raton’s world-class orchestra, has appointed Silva Hristov Alexandrov, Kyle Prescott and June Gelb as new board members. The announcement was made by Steven L. Pomeranz, president of the Boca Raton Symphonia.

The mission of the Boca Raton Symphonia is to make classical music accessible through concert performances, and educational outreach programs, featuring nationally and internationally acclaimed conductors and soloists. The Symphonia’s 2011-2012 Connoisseur Concert Series, now in its seventh year, features renowned Principal Conductor and Piano Soloist, Maestro Philippe Entremont, Guest Conductors Arthur Fagen and Ramon Tebar, and Guest Soloists: Tim Fain and Areta Zhulla (violin) and Claire Huangci, Sebastian Knauer and Alex Kobrin (piano).

Silva Hristov Alexandrov brings a unique perspective to the board through her diverse background and enthusiasm for classical music. Alexandrov, who was brought up appreciating the sounds of classical music while growing up in Bulgaria, will lead donor cultivation for the BRS.   With degrees in both nursing and cardiology, she has worked in healthcare for more than a decade.  She currently serves as chief operations manager and physician/patient liaison for OralFacial Implant Center of Boca Raton, is a member of the Boca Raton Chamber of Commerce, South Florida Business Connections and is a National Marketing Representative for Nussentials, a health and wellness company.

Kyle Prescott is the Director of Bands and Associate Chair of the Department of Music at Florida Atlantic University.  His responsibilities include conducting the University Wind Ensemble and Chamber Winds, teaching the graduate instrumental conducting sequence and coordinating all aspects of FAU’s comprehensive university bands program. He holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Idaho, and Master of Music and Doctor of Musical Arts degrees in Wind Conducting from The University of Texas at Austin, where his principal conducting teacher was Jerry F. Junkin. Additionally, he has studied with exemplary conductors through fourteen international conducting symposia.

Prior to his work at The University of Texas, Dr. Prescott conducted bands and orchestras in the Pacific Northwest. Ensembles under his direction have been invited to perform at the Northwest Regional Conference of the National Association for Music Education in 1997 and 1999, the Southern Conference of the College Band Directors National Association in 2008 and the Florida Music Educators Association Conference in 2009. A strong proponent of new music for wind ensemble, Dr. Prescott has conducted nine world premieres in recent years, including works by Arthur Weisberg and Libby Larsen.

His research in score analysis and rehearsal has been published in three separate volumes of the Teaching Music Through Performance in Band series. He is the current Florida State Chair of CBDNA, and Conductor and Music Director of South Florida’s professional wind band, the Florida Wind Symphony.

June Gelb, with her vast experience in community involvement and passion for the arts and culture, brings seasoned board leadership to the BRS. She is an Australian native who attended the University of Melbourne and then came to the United States to study at Columbia University.  She brings broad board experience to the BRS.  She is currently a board member of the Boca Raton Museum of Art; the University Club of the FAU Foundation, and has co-chaired an annual ball of the American Heart Association. She is a board member of the Long Lake Estates POA for which she served as president for two years. She is also a Chairman of the book club at Boca Rio Gold Club.  Gelb served on the board of the Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens for 14 years, during which she co-chaired one of its annual auctions.

For more information on the Boca Raton Symphonia and its 2011-2012 Connoisseur Series, Allegro Society volunteer auxiliary, and  Circle of Excellence, visit www.bocasymphonia.org or call (866) MUSIC01 or (866) 687-4201.

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THE BOCA RATON BRIDGE HOTEL JAZZ BOSSA & BLUES SERIES LIVE AT THE TOP OF THE BRIDGE IS PACKING THEM IN

 The Bridge Hotel is “jazzing up” summer nights in Boca Raton with its Jazz, Bossa & Blues Series at

 the Top Of The Bridge.  Two opening-night celebrations featured the top names in South Florida Jazz. Beatriz Malnic, heralded with the Brazilian Press Award as the “Best Brazilian Singer in the United States,” kicks off Jazz, Bossa & Blues with a bang on June 1 and on June 8, Nicole Henry  served up

her soulful turn on jazz classics, old and new.

Attendees  mixed and mingled with other music lovers perched atop the Boca Raton Bridge Hotel, featuring a full bar, sumptuous small plates and a sweeping panorama view of the Atlantic Ocean

and Boca marinas.  On Wednesdays, The Jazz, Bossa & Blues Series transforms Carmen’s Top of the Bridge to an intimate New York style upscale lounge from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., running through

 the summer.

A ten-dollar entertainment charge applies to enjoy all the evening's festivities and complimentary valet parking. Doors open at 7 p.m. Please call (561) 886-4570 or visit www.jazzbossablues.com for more information and the full performance schedule.

The Bridge Hotel is located at 999 East Camino Real in Boca Raton. To book guest room reservations at this pet-friendly, all-balcony waterfront boutique hotel located less than a mile from vibrant Downtown Boca and the area’s pristine beaches, call (561) 368-9500 or toll-free (866) 909-2622, or visit www.bocaratonbridgehotel.com.  For dining reservations Thursday thru Saturday and Sunday Brunch at Carmen’s, call (561) 886-4570 or visit www.opentable.com.   

About Beatriz Malnic:

Beatriz Malnic appears on our first opening night as part of a quartet featuring guitarist Ivo de Carvalho.  Prepare to be transported as Bea weaves a tapestry of American classics with a Brazilian twist and Bossa Nova with unparalleled flair.  (Of course, you shouldn’t be surprised to find a few threads of samba in the evening’s blend.)  Beatriz has performed and recorded with musical luminaries such as Toquinho, Chico Buarque, Roberto Menescal, Al Di Meola, Nestor Torres and others.  She is the featured vocalist on several CDs, including a CD of bossa nova and samba songs that was produced by Roberto Menescal and directed by Nelson Motta for Warner Music of Brazil.  Her second CD, Estrada do Sol, was released in 2006. Her first live DVD “Bossa and Blues” was released in December 2010.  Ivo de Carvalho has recorded with Joao Gilberto, Maria Carey and Earth, Wind & Fire, among others. 

About Nicole Henry:

Nicole Henry appears on our second opening night celebration with a level of class, beauty and talent rarely seen even in the world’s finest music venues.  Sophisticated, soulful and fun, Nicole Henry has won praise from both critics and audiences worldwide for her powerful ability to truly touch and inspire people with her beautiful voice and stunning presence.  She has released three international top 10-selling jazz CDs within the past six years and has toured in over fourteen countries.  Jazz Improv writes that Nicole is “beautiful, emotionally evocative…a terrific voice and a sensitive way with a lyric.”  It’s with that same sensitivity that Nicole Henry mesmerizes audiences wherever she goes.  Career highlights include performing 14 concerts in Japan with the Duke Ellington Orchestra; sharing the headline with Michael Feinstein in Dallas for a Larry Rosen Jazz Roots concert; being honored by Miami-Dade County’s In the Company of Women “Arts & Entertainment Award”; singing the National Anthem on FOX’s 2010 FedEx Orange Bowl for over 15 million viewers and the average of 150 annual performances she is involved in throughout the world.  Nicole’s latest CD release, The Very Thought of You reached #7 on the U.S. Billboard Jazz Chart in 2008, positioned between Diana Krall and Tony Bennett.  She’s been everywhere from Shanghai to Madrid and from Kosovo to Paris, but on June 8th, she’s all ours - right here in Boca Raton.

Destined To Be Together Forever? Make It Official With A Destination Wedding At Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa

When choosing a locale for a destination wedding, busy couples often consider three essentials – flight convenience for friends and family, requirements for legal marriage certificates and ease in planning and managing every detail away from home. Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa, the AAA Four Diamond property located on 15-acres of Aruba’s legendary Palm Beach, offers all of the elements to ensuring a picture-perfect destination wedding that is as effortless to plan and execute as saying “I do.”

First, the island of Aruba offers abundant and affordable airlift, including a multitude of non-stop flights from major gateways. The Queen Beatrix International Airport, located minutes from the resort, serves all the major carriers including American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta Airlines, JetBlue Airways, US Airways and United Airlines.   

Second, becoming legally married in Aruba is hassle-free. Couples generally have their civil ceremony (the legal part of the wedding) in the morning at the Civil House, a historic, sea-colored renovated mansion in downtown Oranjestad. This is followed by a romantic beach blessing at Radisson Aruba Resort that afternoon or early evening. To become legally married on the island, couples submit their applications and paperwork such as copies of birth certificates and passports one month in advance for consideration. Radisson Aruba Resort’s dedicated wedding specialist can assist with each step, serving as the liaison with government officials, to ensure that the process is simple and efficient.

Third, the same expert wedding specialist, Lisa Dammerman, who directs the Resort’s own Aruba Weddings By Design comprehensive services from her in-lobby wedding salon, can customize a dream wedding for brides and grooms leading up to the big day. Always current on the latest wedding trends and with a natural zest for “creative” planning, Lisa is an Aruba native with lifelong relationships among the island’s top florists and pastry chefs as well as clergy, government officials and a variety of special event vendors. She not only helps brides plan “the big day,” she serves as a valued source of guidance, inspiration and support with plenty of personal “hand-holding” that includes consulting and orchestrating all wedding day details, arranging rehearsal dinners and securing preferred rates for all guests. All-encompassing services range from assistance group room blocks, rehearsal dinners and ceremony needs, to menu selections, floral arrangements, entertainment, photography/videography, wedding cakes, and gifts for the bridal party.

Highlighted services and amenities as well as special events and activities catering to destination weddings at Radisson Aruba Resort include:

·                     Break The Ice Over Tropical Cocktails – one fun facet of a destination wedding is reconnecting with old friends and meeting new ones.  Radisson Aruba Resort’s outdoor lounge Mira Solo, surrounded by waterfalls and tropical foliage, is the perfect locale to break the ice. Mira Solo (meaning “look at the sun” in Papiamento) features an array of specialty martinis, tropical cocktails and light appetizers.

·                     Last Minute “Bro-mance” – leading up to the wedding ceremony, the groom and his bridal

party will have plenty of opportunities to bond. They can visit the resort’s five-star PADI dive facility and become certified or rent motorized and non-motorized equipment such as canoes, paddle boats, Hobie Cats and Wave runners.  Other activities include banana boat rides, waterskiing, windsurfing and parasailing.  Additionally, preferred tee times are available at the nearby Robert Trend Jones II -designed par 71 Tierra del Sol championship golf course, bordered by both desert and ocean.

 

·                     Rehearsal Dinner Toasts and Roasts: Award-winning wine list at Aruba’s top steakhouse –

Radisson Aruba Resort’s signature fine dining restaurant, Sunset Grille is an island favorite. The AAA Four Diamond restaurant – the only restaurant on the entire island with this designation – features USDA Prime beef, amazingly fresh seafood, sumptuous appetizers, mouth-watering desserts and an equally impressive wine list.  Sunset Grille has a great energy with its “exhibition kitchen,” and offers stunning views of the gardens, waterfalls and ocean.

·                     Princess Bride for Fairytale Wedding – prior to the bridesmaid luncheon, the bride and her

attendants can enjoy a day at the resort’s award-winning Larimar Spa. The 13,000-square-foot oceanfront facility offers a full menu of services in nine separate treatment rooms.  Expert salon technicians create beautiful up dos for the bridal party and are available for make up application.

·                     Private Club for Wedding Party – Radisson Aruba Resort features 40 rooms and suites

which comprise its Plaza Club. Guests have access to an exclusive Plaza Club Lounge featuring complimentary continental breakfast, afternoon tea and an evening cocktail hour with premium brands and hors d’oeuvres. The lounge also includes plenty of comfortable seating and a selection of books and DVDs for relaxing between events.

·                     Something Blue: Sunset Beach Ceremony Overlooking The Caribbean Sea – Radisson

Aruba Resort is located on 1,500 feet of white sandy beach, offering the perfect backdrop for a tropical wedding ceremony. Alternatively, the resort has scenic gardens and lush landscaping that also serves as idyllic locations for romance. Receptions can take place on the beach by torchlight or poolside surrounding one of the property’s stunning free-form pools. The resort’s executive chef can fashion menus for elegant sit-down dinners, design elaborate culinary stations and create show-stopping wedding cakes.

·                     Celebrating “I Do” With Majestic Penthouse Views – Radisson Aruba Resort also features an exclusive 2,735-square-foot penthouse suite ideal for intimate wedding ceremonies, cocktail parties, bridal luncheons or as an unforgettable honeymoon suite. This three-bedroom, three-bathroom romantic retreat features a 645-square-foot rooftop terrace offering panoramic views of the ocean.

For more information on Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa’s destination wedding offerings, please visit its exclusive website, www.arubaweddingsbydesign.com.

–      Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa   –

The AAA Four Diamond Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa, located on Palm Beach – the island’s top beach – is a 15-acre tropical oasis offering exceptional accommodations and facilities enhanced by warm and caring, attentive service. The resort’s award-winning oceanfront Larimar Spa, known for treatments incorporating indigenous island ingredients, is the most comprehensive in Aruba and a favorite of spa connoisseurs. With an exceptional staff – many with the resort for more than 15 years – the property is notable for its gracious service, having the largest expanse of white sandy beach on the island, exotic lagoons, cascading waterfalls, manicured fragrant gardens, and 355 guestrooms, including 30 luxurious suites and exclusive Plaza Club accommodations. The Radisson Aruba captures the essence of Aruban charm offering sumptuous cuisine in three restaurants; including Sunset Grille, the island’s only AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant in a resort and Miro Sol, the island’s only martini bar featuring a variety of 52 martinis; a 30,000-square-foot pool area with two free-form pools; a 16,000-square-foot starlit-themed casino; a five-star PADI dive and water sports facility, and more than 15,000 square feet of special event space.

Radisson® Hotels & Resorts, As one of the world’s leading brands, Radisson® is being positioned to deliver vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality characterized by the Yes I Can!^SM service philosophy.Our ambition is to expand Radisson® as a powerful, globally consistent, first-class brand. The positioning is being supported by a series of innovations introduced during our 2010 Global Business Conference, including new room concepts, new restaurant concepts and a series of new service concepts focused on the guest experience. The strategy for Radisson® entails an investment program of up to USD 1.5 billion in North America alone, focused on establishing flagship hotels in key U.S. cities and on upgrading the existing portfolio. With 425 hotels in operation globally and 107 hotels currently in the pipeline, the brand is poised for significant growth around the world*. We plan to grow the portfolio domestically and globally to at least 600 hotels by 2015. For information and reservations, call Radisson at +1 (800) 333-3333, visit www.radisson.com/aruba or contact your travel professional. All packages include complimentary high-speed Internet access and rates listed are per room based on double occupancy in Garden View accommodations.

Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa Wins Prestigious Pinnacle Award

2011 Marks the Resort’s Third Year as a Pinnacle Award Recipient

The Radisson Aruba Resort, Casino & Spa has won the 2011 Pinnacle Award, the symbol of excellence among meeting planners, bestowed upon resorts and hotels with a proven track record for delivering a superior meetings experience.  The coveted award is the “reader’s choice” of the meetings and incentives industry, with recipients named by the readers of Successful Meetings magazine whose audience is comprised of meeting and event planners throughout the United States and abroad.  This year marks the third year that the Radisson Aruba Resort has won the Pinnacle Award.

The Radisson Aruba Resort features over 15,000 square feet of meeting and event space with five function rooms ranging from 600 to 1,000 square-feet and an 8,100-square-foot Grand Caribbean Ballroom accommodating up to 900 people.  Additionally, the resort also offers over 24,000 square feet of outdoor venue options.  On-site specialists coordinate every group need from start to finish, and meeting planners can take advantage of Radisson goldpoints plus®  “Points for Planners.”

Readers of Successful Meetings – professionals who are decision makers for planning meetings, events, conferences, and incentive programs – voted for the winners of the Pinnacle Awards via online ballots and gave feedback based on their professional experiences worldwide for the top hotels, conference centers and CVBs.

About Radisson Aruba Resort

The AAA Four Diamond Radisson Aruba Resort, located on Palm Beach – the island’s top beach – is a 15-acre tropical oasis offering exceptional accommodations and facilities enhanced by warm and caring, attentive service. The resort’s award-winning oceanfront Larimar Spa, known for treatments incorporating indigenous island ingredients, is the most comprehensive in Aruba and a favorite of spa connoisseurs. With an exceptional staff – many with the resort for more than 15 years – the property is notable for its gracious service, having the largest expanse of white sandy beach on the island, exotic lagoons, cascading waterfalls, manicured fragrant gardens, and 355 guestrooms, including 30 luxurious suites and exclusive Plaza Club accommodations. The Radisson Aruba captures the essence of Aruban charm offering sumptuous cuisine in three restaurants; including Sunset Grille, the island’s only AAA Four Diamond-rated restaurant and Mira Solo, the island’s only martini bar featuring a variety of 52 martinis; a 30,000-square-foot pool area with two free-form pools; a five-star PADI dive and water sports facility, and more than 15,000 square feet of special event space.

Radisson® Hotels & Resorts, As one of the world’s leading brands, Radisson® is being positioned to deliver vibrant, contemporary and engaging hospitality characterized by the Yes I Can!^SM service philosophy. Our ambition is to expand Radisson® as a powerful, globally consistent, first-class brand. The positioning is being supported by a series of innovations introduced during our 2010 Global Business Conference, including new room concepts, new restaurant concepts and a series of new service concepts focused on the guest experience. The strategy for Radisson® entails an investment program of up to USD 1.5 billion in North America alone, focused on establishing flagship hotels in key U.S. cities and on upgrading the existing portfolio. With 425 hotels in operation globally and 107 hotels currently in the pipeline, the brand is poised for significant growth around the world*. We plan to grow the portfolio domestically and globally to at least 600 hotels by 2015. For information and reservations, call Radisson at +1 (800) 333-3333, visit www.radisson.com/aruba or contact your travel professional. All packages include complimentary high-speed Internet access and rates listed are per room based on double occupancy in Garden View accommodations.