Space Coast Symphony Orchestra Season Announcement Party Set May 3 at Riverside Presbyterian Church in Cocoa
By Space Coast Daily // April 21, 2026
mixer will include SCSO conductor Aaron Collins and orchestra members
BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – Before the June launch of their 18th performing season, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is pairing two things everyone loves – a party and great music.
First up on Sunday, May 3, is the Season Announcement Party at Riverside Presbyterian Church in Cocoa Beach, a mixer with SCSO conductor Aaron Collins and orchestra members, featuring the release of the 2026-27 programming and an opportunity to renew season passes and reserve concert seating.
Attendees can go straight from the 3:30 p.m party to the free 5 p.m. recital, The Music Between Us: From Habanera to Hollywood, which will feature renowned soprano Tesia Kwarteng and celebrated Vero Beach pianist Jacob Craig.
The program at 3400 N. Atlantic Avenue (A1A) will invite audiences to journey from the elegance of European art song to the vibrant spirit of Broadway and American classics.
Among the recital selections are Bizet’s famous “Habanera,” the jaunty “Fly Me to the Moon,” and the Gershwin classic, “Love Is Here to Stay.”
Tesia Kwarteng is a versatile and multi-faceted Ghanaian-American artist who is equally at home on the operatic stage, on screen, and in the studio.
Admission to The Music Between Us is free of charge. A $20 donation is suggested to help defray the production costs of free community concerts.
For more information about The Music Between Us or to get your free ticket to the Season Announcement party, call 855-252-7276 or visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org.
Kwarteng was recently seen as a featured soloist at The Atlantic Council Global Citizen Awards with the American Pops Orchestra, Maddalena in Rigoletto at Cincinnati Opera, and in the world premiere of Loving v. Virginia as Annette Byrd at Virginia Opera.
She was also seen as Grandmother/Elder and Magdalena Silva in The Cartography Project productions at The Kennedy Center. She made her role debut as Carmen at Opera Columbus. In the 2023-2024 season, she made her Broadway Debut as Lady Catherine in Camelot and performed at the 76th Annual Tony Awards.
Moving effortlessly across musical styles, The Music Between Us embraces spirituals, jazz standards, and Broadway favorites. Aaron T. Collins, Artistic Director of the Space Coast Symphony, is delighted to present the afternoon recital as a free gift to the community.
“This is a very special pairing of two exceptional talents,” said Collins. “The eclectic and engaging program celebrates the timeless power of melody, storytelling, and pure emotion.”
The remaining presentation in the 2025-26 season will be ‘Made in America: Side by Side’ on May 23 and 24 in Melbourne and Vero Beach. The concert of all-American composers will include select youth musicians from across Central Florida in a powerful performance alongside their professional SCSO counterparts.
The Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is one of only a handful of U.S. orchestras to perform year-round. Concertgoers aged 18 and under or with a college ID are admitted free to every SCSO concert. For more information about the Space Coast Symphony’s upcoming season or the Symphony for Everyone ticket program, visit SpaceCoastSymphony.org or call (855) 252-7276.
ABOUT TESIA KWARTENG — Tesia Kwarteng is a versatile and multi-faceted Ghanaian-American artist who is equally at home on the operatic stage, on screen, and in the studio. Upcoming and recent highlights for Ms. Kwarteng include Ruth in The Pirates of Penzance with Tulsa Opera, a concert appearance with Symphony of the Americas, a role and house debut as Maddalena in Verdi’s Rigoletto with Cincinnati Opera, creating the role of Ida Mae in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s American Apollo with Des Moines Metro Opera, Jenny in The Threepenny Opera with Opera Columbus, The Cartography Project with Washington National Opera, and creating the role of Annette Byrd in the world premiere of Damien Geter’s Loving v. Virginia with Virginia Opera.
Tesia was a finalist in the 2020 George London Foundation Competition, was selected as a 2019 Top 30 under 30 Pioneer by the Future of Ghana publication, has received a career grant from the Bagby Foundation for Musical Arts, was an Encouragement Award winner at the Houston district Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, was a 2016 recipient of an encouragement grant from the Career Bridges Foundation, was a fellow at the CoOPERAtive Program in 2015, and received the 2013 Legacy Award in the National Opera Association competition. For more information about Ms. Kwarteng’s voice, voiceover, or acting disciplines, visit www.TesiaKwarteng.com.
ABOUT JACOB CRAIG — Dr. Jacob Craig is the Director of Music and Arts at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, Florida. He received his Bachelor of Music Education and Piano Performance degree from Shorter University in Rome, GA, before moving on to Tallahassee, FL, to receive his M.M. in Choral Conducting and Literature under Dr. Andre Thomas at Florida State University.
As of 2019, Jacob completed his Doctorate of Sacred Music in Performance at the Graduate Theological Foundation and Oxford University. He is the Director of the Vero Beach Choral Society, ACTS Choristers, Sea Oaks Chorus, John’s Island Singers, and Silver Tones community choirs. Jacob is also a competitive highland bagpipe player and Pipe Major for the Vero Beach Pipes and Drums.
ABOUT THE SPACE COAST SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA— The SCSO is a lively and passionate Central Florida orchestra comprised of professional musicians, music educators, and mentored amateurs of exceptional ability. The Orchestra was formed by Conductor and Artistic Director Aaron T. Collins with a two-fold mission: to provide mentoring and performance opportunities for Florida’s finest young musicians as well as to provide professional concerts at genuinely affordable prices. The ultimate goal of the organization is to help ensure the symphonic tradition for the enjoyment of future generations.
The SCSO is dedicated to supporting the work of living composers and shining a light on new music. By performing and commissioning today’s brightest composers, the SCSO brings fresh, exhilarating sounds to life in the concert hall. Roughly thirty percent of all SCSO performances include a work by living composers, many of whom call Florida home. The SCSO actively promotes diversity by programming works by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) composers. Since 2009, the SCSO has presented dozens of World Premieres and Southeastern U.S. Premieres.
Aaron T. Collins continues to garner recognition for his achievements. LEAD Brevard named the ambitious Collins one of their “4 under 40” Young Professionals, the youngest-ever recipient of the honor. Space Coast Business magazine listed him as one of Brevard’s “100 Most Admired Businesspeople.” Collins is a past recipient of the Richard A. Stark Award for cultural leadership from the Cultural Council of Indian River County. Through his personal involvement with more than a dozen performing arts groups, pioneering reciprocal ad program and social media cross promotions, Collins has gained a reputation for generosity; championing other arts organizations throughout Central Florida for the cultural enrichment of the community.
School-aged children 18 years and under are admitted free of charge, as are college students with a valid ID. In keeping with their mission, the symphony offers a unique Symphony for Everyone ticketing program, a “pay-what-you-can” option that provides substantially discounted admission to any Space Coast Symphony concert. Relying on a non-traditional orchestra model and a slim budget, the Space Coast Symphony Orchestra is one of only a handful of U.S. orchestras to perform year-round. The nonprofit organization also maintains the Space Coast Symphony JAZZ Orchestra and the Space Coast Symphony Wind Orchestra, with several free performances each year.
