The Board of Directors of the Anna Maria Island Concert Chorus & Orchestra (AMICCO) has decided to postpone its Symphony on the Sand for this year after meeting regularly to examine its options considering the unique circumstances surrounding COVID-19 and its effect on the community.
In its eighth season, Symphony on the Sand has traditionally been held on Coquina Beach on the second Saturday each November. Recognized as one of the region’s premier musical events, it has been attended by more than 4,000 people annually.
“The board has been following the news closely as it relates to the safety and well-being of patrons, musicians and vocalists, as well as the surrounding community and audience members who have supported this successful event over the years,” board President James Stoltie said.
“Central to the conversation has been the health and well-being of everyone involved in the production of Symphony on the Sand. Many organizations and individuals work closely together to ensure that every performance is successful and better than the last. The rehearsal time invested by our orchestra and chorus members, along with the planning time of our service providers and volunteers, requires hours of commitment.
“AMICCO deeply values the relationships created with our community partners and as such we feel that moving forward with Symphony on the Sand 2020 would put all involved at increased and unnecessary risk. While we acknowledge that there are differing perspectives on the topic, we have nevertheless decided to err on the side of keeping our treasured talent, audience members, volunteers, sponsors and community partners safe. The AMICCO Board views the health and safety of our community as the most important factor and underlying priority, and it is in this spirit that we look forward to creating Symphony on the Sand in 2021 and beyond.”
