Plan ahead for Oct. 9-15

Maria Sonnenberg
For FLORIDA TODAY
The Indialantic Chamber Singers draw on two decades of performances during the free “How Can We Keep from Singing?” concerts Oct. 13 and 20.

Gotta sing

“How Can We Keep from Singing?” ask the Indialantic Chamber Singers in their next concert. The answer is, they can’t, and the group, known for flawless renditions of accompanied as well as a capella works, will sing to their heart’s content during a concert. at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, Advent Lutheran Church, 7550 N. Wickham Road, Suntree.

But, wait, there’s more! The Singers will reprise the concert a week later at 3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 20, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 106 N. Riverside Dr., Indialantic.

The group has performed several times in the nation’s capital at the invitation of the Washington National Cathedral.

The program includes music old and new selected from 20 years of past performances.

Director Beth Green will conduct the group, with accompaniment by pianist Teresa Fleenor.

"The music for this concert will celebrate the expressive singing and smooth vocal blend of our talented group,” said Green.

“Sometimes they even send shivers up my spine — and I'm their conductor!"

“How Can We Keep from Singing?” is free, with a suggested donation of $10.

For more information, call 321-426-0360 or visit IndialanticChamberSingers.org.

Revealing secrets

Consumers are often unaware of the vast amount of free screenings and wellness checks available through Medicare, because the convoluted system is, well, not that easy to navigate sometimes.

One-stop senior marketplace One Senior Place will reveal some of these benefits during “Best Kept Secrets of Medicare Benefits,” a free program at 9:30 a.m., Monday, Oct. 14, at 8085 Spyglass Hill Rd., Viera.

The event begins with medication reviews and several free on-site health screenings. Attendees who wish to receive flu shots by Walgreens should remember to bring their insurance cards.  At 10 a.m., a special "Ask the Experts" seminar features Viera Insurance Professionals and Canadian MedStore discussing the many free preventive services provided by Medicare.

A question-and-answer period follows, plus time to browse the tables of over a dozen health service providers, including Steward Health Care, Brevard Eye, Personal Hearing Solutions, VITAS, Florida Blue, Aquatic Health and more.

To ensure seating and a copy of the free booklet, Medicare Preventive Services, register at 321-751-6771. 

To learn more, visit OneSeniorPlace.com.

Frederic and Frederic’s very excellent concert

Dutch pianist Frederic Voorn will play the works of Frederic Chopin, plus Mozart to boot, during a unique chamber concert at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at Eastminster Presbyterian Church, 106 Riverside Drive, Indialantic.

Voorn, who has performed in concert halls on four continents, will play alongside musicians from the Space Coast Symphony. The program also includes some of his own compositions. Voorn studied piano at the Dutch music conservatories of Amsterdam and Utrecht, before continuing his studies in London and Moscow. For 12 years, his weekly performances were broadcast by Dutch Radio 4. He has recorded several CDs for record label Ezra Classics and is working on an opera about the legendary impresario for the Ballets Russes, Sergei Diaghilev.

The concert is free, with a suggested donation of $15 to $20. For more information, call 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.

Swinging it

Melbourne Municipal Band’s Swingtime ensemble will present “A Salute to Big Band Vocalists and Groups,” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 Hibiscus Blvd. There is no charge for the concert and tickets are not required. 

Conductor Art Martin will lead Swingtime as the band transports listeners to the Big Band era with songs made popular by vocalists such as Frank Sinatra, Tex Beneke, Ella Fitzgerald, Ray Eberle, the Modernaires and the Pied Pipers.

Sally Hart, Len Fallen, and the Swingtimers Vocal Trio are featured singers. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with pre-show entertainment by the New Horizons Band.

Call 321-724-0555 or visit melbournemunicipalband.org for more information.

Conductor Art Martin will lead the Melbourne Municipal Band’s Swingtime ensemble in “A Salute to Big Band Vocalists and Groups,” at 7:30 p.m. Oct. 9 and 10 at the Melbourne Auditorium, 625 Hibiscus Blvd.

Cosmic jazz

Astronaut and musician Capt. Winston Scott brings his brand of cosmic jazz to the Space Coast Jazz Society’s concert at 2 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 13, at Rockledge Country Club, 1591 S. Fiske Blvd.

The thrice-spacewalker will play the trumpet with his Winston Scott Cosmic Jazz Ensemble, which includes Ron Teixeira on piano, Al Dodds on bass and Stan Soloko on drums, as well as guest artist and vocalist “Lady Tandy” Johnson.

Teixeira, Dodds and Soloko are regulars at Heidi’s Jazz Club. Johnson plays with several local jazz and blues groups, including her own trio.  In addition, expect special surprise guests.

Scott, a retired U.S. Navy captain, naval aviator and NASA astronaut, currently serves as senior adviser to the president for external relations and economic development at Florida Tech, where he plays with the university’s Jazz Syndicate and directs its faculty band, TWITCHY. He also composes and arranges music for these and other groups. Additionally, he is a professor of music and professor of aeronautics.

Admission is $10 for Jazz Society members and $15 for non-members. Purchase at the door or online at SpaceCoastJazzSociety.org. Students younger than 25 are admitted free.

Drinking through the decades

Café Margaux will host a series of themed bar events this month and next. For October, dust off your vintage duds for the Cocoa Village restaurant’s “Through the Decades” mini-parties from 5 to 7 p.m. every Wednesday of the month.

Dress for success in true 1940s fashion for Oct. 9. Unleash your inner flower child of the 1960s for Oct. 16,  and let the “Saturday Night Fever” rage during Oct. 23, when Café Margaux pays homage to the 1970s. On Oct. 30, it’s time for the big hair and padded shoulders of the good old 1980s. The best-dressed winner from each decade gets a prize, plus there is swag and information from reps interpreting the libations.

In November, Margaux embarks on a round-the-world adventure of crafted cocktails, again from 5 to 7 p.m. on Wednesdays. Explore different tastes and new ideas, beginning with the cocktails of Mexico on Nov. 6. Ireland is next on Nov. 13, followed by Russia Nov. 20. Nov. 27 is the time to make American cocktails great again with a look at homegrown libations. 

There is no charge for these events, other than the drinks you choose to imbibe.

Café Margaux is at 220 Brevard Ave., Cocoa Village. For more information, call 321-639-8343 or visit margaux.com.

Treasure Island

More than 400 swashbuckling guests are expected at Jess Parrish Medical Foundation’s "Treasure Island” gala to benefit The Children’s Center.

The gala takes place from 5 to 10 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 12, at Cruise Terminal One in Port Canaveral. Gray Robinson, P.A., and William and Laura Boyles are presenting sponsors.

Guests will enjoy signature cocktails, a tropical island-inspired dinner and treasure hunting at the silent auction. One thousand pieces of gold will be at stake in the Hooks ‘n Tails costume contest. Guests are encouraged to wear elegant pirate and mermaid inspired attire, given that a $500 prize for the best mermaid and $500 for the best pirate will be awarded. 

Tickets are $125 per guest; sponsorship opportunities begin at $500. For more information, call 321-269-4066 or visit parrishmedfoundation.com/gala.

And Attic treasures, too

Snag some treasure, and eat your cake, too, during the Dorcas Circle’s Attic Treasures and Bake Sale from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Oct. 12 at Suntree United Methodist Church, 7400 N. Wickham Road.

Proceeds benefit charities such as Daily Bread, Devereux, Salvation Army Women’s Shelter and Suntree Outreach Mission.

For additional information about our upcoming sale, call 321-504-9917 or 321-482-5906.