The Festival Beat

Festival Boca took First Place at the SUNsational Awards in the category of Hybrid Event, for its presentation of Nadine Sierra and Friends, broadcast via live-streaming on March 6, 2021.

We were a bit trepidatious about moving the Festival to a virtual setting. But opening weekend came off without a hitch, and we are getting lots of positive feedback about the Nadine Sierra and James Ehnes concerts.

Admiral James Stavridis will share timely views and information about the current state of the world, based on many years spent in top leadership and NATO posts.

In a talk sponsored by Baptist Health, Sonia Shah brings insight and clarification to how environmental changes, often a result of human behavior, affect disease, and how migration – naturally and historically the focus of suspicion – may actually be our salvation.

Bruce Feiler, the author of seven New York Times bestsellers, the presenter of two prime-time series on PBS, and the inspiration for the drama Council of Dads on NBC, has been thinking a lot about wolves of late.

When the Festival Boca team decided to go ahead with a virtual 2021 season, they knew they had to include Music Director Constantine Kitsopoulos and the Festival Orchestra, who have anchored the Festival’s programs over the last 15 years. But, in the age of social distancing and masking, that posed unusual challenges.

The legendary Nestor Torres makes his Festival Boca debut on March 14 as Season 15's closing act. There could not be a more appropriate performer to close our 2021 season.

We are excited to announce the winners of the Festival of the Arts Boca Music Competition. Congratulations to all the winners! We will be hosting a special pre-Festival Winners Concert on March 4 at 7 pm.

At just 45, Ehnes has performed as a soloist with most of the world’s finest orchestras and conductors and has been called the greatest violinist of his generation. On March 7, he has is Festival Boca debut.

Nadine Sierra grew up in South Florida, found her love of opera here, and launched from here onto the international stage as one of the world's most acclaimed sopranos.

Festival of the Arts Boca will go forward in 2021, with virtual performances by Florida-based artists from iconic locations throughout Boca Raton from March 6 – 14, 2021.  Each program will stream once only on the Festival of the Arts Boca website. Access is free with advance registration.

Our 90-minute Virtual Gala was a huge success, raising over $25,000 for our music education programs. You can rewatch some or all of the program here.