Sinfonia Gulf Coast & Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation Partner to Bring the Paint the Music Program to Nearly 2,000 Students

This unique multi-disciplinary program offered our local youth an immersive experience in visual arts, live theater, and music all in one program. Beginning with an exploration of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s compositions, students from 16 Okaloosa and Walton County schools and home school groups engaged in the "paint what you hear" activity in their classrooms. On April 24, each class browsed their selected masterpieces showcased at the Destin-Fort Walton Beach Convention Center as part of the Paint the Music art exhibit. Afterward, the event culminated with students attending Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage, a theatrical production featuring professional actors and live orchestral music performed by Sinfonia Gulf Coast.

Mozart’s Magnificent Voyage follows the tale of Mozart's son, Karl, as he embarks on a magical journey through time, delving into the life of the renowned composer and the enchanting world of his opera, The Magic Flute. Through 23 excerpts from Mozart’s repertoire, students were captivated by pieces such as The Marriage of Figaro, Don Giovanni, The Magic Flute and Eine Kleine Nachtmusik, seamlessly woven into the narrative.

"We are delighted to offer this enriching cultural experience in collaboration with the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation," said Demetrius Fuller, Music & Artistic Director for Sinfonia Gulf Coast and CEO for MKAF. "Providing nearly two thousand children the opportunity to immerse themselves in art, music, and theater aligns perfectly with our respective missions."

Sinfonia Gulf Coast, as the region’s sole fully professional symphony orchestra, remains committed to delivering exceptional events and fostering educational initiatives across the Northwest Florida Gulf Coast. Proceeds from concerts and events contribute to Sinfonia Gulf Coast’s music education programs, which include musician/guest artist school visits, free orchestra concerts, student transportation support, the Sinfonia Youth Orchestra program, Arts in Medicine with Sacred Heart Hospital on the Emerald Coast, Link Up concerts in collaboration with Carnegie Hall’s Weill Institute of Music, the annual Paint the Music Project, and more. Since it established its music education program in 2007, Sinfonia Gulf Coast estimates that it has impacted 200,000 students in Okaloosa and Walton Counties.

Established in 1995, MKAF is Northwest Florida’s champion of the arts for all abilities with a track record of impacting over 400,000 individuals in the local community. Through its ArtsReach initiative, MKAF extends cultural outreach programs to K-12 students, adults, children with special needs, at-risk youth, and the active/veteran military community through the Warrior Arts program.