Announcing the 2023-2024 Season

Howey-in-the-Hills, FL — Chamber woodwinds, a lively ode to Great Gatsby-era music, a world-class trumpet player and a romantic Valentine’s gala and concert headline the 2023-24 Howey Music Series. 

Also appearing: A Disney vocalist who will sing some of the best tunes from The Great American Songbook, and a creative classical pianist who has received international acclaim.


“We're thrilled to announce that The Howey Music Series is back for its sixth season, and it's going to be our biggest one yet,” said executive and artistic director Emily Heumann. “This year we are expanding our offerings to include six concerts, providing even more opportunities for our audience to experience extraordinary music that's both accessible and educational. One of the highlights to look forward to is our inaugural gala, an evening filled with delicious food and romantic music.

“Our main focus was to showcase artists of the highest caliber, with a special emphasis on those who have deep ties to Florida,” Heumann said. “We are proud to present a diverse range of performers, including artists who have achieved international recognition, as well as exceptional local artists who call Florida home.

“While our loyal fans will be delighted to see some familiar faces, we’re equally excited to introduce new artists to our audiences. By shining a spotlight on outstanding talent with Florida connections, we aim to celebrate the remarkable achievements of our local artists and foster a sense of pride within our community.”

Howey Music Series announced the season lineup on June 1, 2023. Season and individual tickets are on sale now at www.howeymusicseries.org. Season tickets for five concerts are $170, and individual tickets are $30 for outdoor jazz and $45 for indoor classical concerts. Tickets also are available for the Feb. 7 gala for $150. Act quickly, as the dinner and concert are expected to sell out.

Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Front Lawn. “The Roaring ‘20s and Beyond,” featuring Greg Parnell and the Classic Jazz Band. This will be a “Great Gatsby” show with authentic jazz music from the 1920s to the 1950s featuring a classic jazz big band. Parnell spent many years on the road with the Glenn Miller Orchestra as drummer and road manager. He enjoys performing in a wide variety of settings including big bands, backing headliners and small jazz groups.

Sunday, Dec. 17, 2023, 4:00-5:30 p.m., Front Lawn. “Swinging into the Holidays,” featuring trumpeter Enrique Sanchez and CuBop Jazz Quartet. A graduate of the prestigious Juilliard School, Enrique Sanchez is an in-demand trumpet player, composer and educator. He graduated from the Osceola County School for the Arts in Kissimmee and moved to New York, where he was fortunate enough to begin recording at the professional level. He performs frequently on television (“America’s Got Talent,” ABC’s “Good Morning America,” “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert, “The Tonight Show” with Jimmy Fallon and Univision) as well as on some of the country’s most prestigious stages like Madison Square Garden and the Hollywood Bowl. 

Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024, 7:00-8:30 p.m., The Great Hall. “Wonderful Winds: An Evening of Chamber Music,” featuring the Philharmonia Wind Ensemble under the direction of Maestro Pasquale Valerio. Valerio is the founder and music director of The Villages Philharmonic Orchestra and Chorale. Maestro Valerio is an internationally acclaimed conductor who regularly conducts at the Orchestra Filarmonica 900’, Teatro Regio, and the Viotti International Music Festival. He currently serves as Visiting Professor of Conducting at the London Performing Academy of Music.

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2024, 5:00-8:30 p.m., The Great Hall. Our Inaugural Gala, with dinner and “A Concert from the Heart: A Valentine Recital,” featuring Victor Minke Huls, cello, and Wesley Ducote, piano. Victor Minke Huls is a cellist, conductor, and pianist, and he has been appointed as associate principal cellist of The Florida Orchestra. Wesley Ducote is a third-year piano fellow at the New World Symphony. He has served as principal keyboardist with the Shepherd School Symphony and the Houston Grand Opera Orchestra. 

Wednesday, March 27, 2024, 7:00-8:30 p.m., The Great Hall. “Harmony in Bloom: A Spring Piano Recital.” Internationally acclaimed pianist Byeol Kim has earned a reputation for her “ingeniously colorful imagination with stage charisma.” Fun and fresh with an expressive playing style, she is a top prize winner in major national and international competitions including Cleveland, Paderewski, Dallas, Louisiana, San Antonio, New Orleans, and Washington International Piano Competitions. She was recently selected as the incoming assistant professor of piano at Rollins College. 

Sunday, April 21, 2024, 4:00-5:30 pm, Front Lawn. “Jazz in the Afternoon: Elodie Germain Sings the Great American Songbook” with the Chuck Archard Trio. Born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, and raised in southern and central Africa, Elodie Germain is an accomplished singer/songwriter based out of Orlando, Florida. She has performed with many a capella groups around Central Florida, including the Voices of Liberty at Walt Disney World. She is a founding member of RESOLVE, an award-winning vocal jazz quartet. 

For more information, please contact Emily Heumann at: [email protected] 

HMMS is funded in part by United Arts of Central Florida, home of OrlandoAtPlay.com and UAArtsEd.com.