VERO BEACH − Each year a handful of professional musicians perform classical, bluegrass and jazz arrangements on cellos, violins, fiddles, mandolins and guitars at the first night of two concerts of the Vero Beach International Music Festival.
Part one of the two-day event is aimed at showcasing the skill of the nationally and internationally renowned instructors of the summer music camp held in Vero Beach each year.
The festival culminates in a second concert where students of the Mike Block String Camp perform for roughly two hours showcasing skills learned in the week-long course.
Like several of the camp’s instructors, Mike Block is a Grammy Award winning cello player who has toured with Yo-Yo Ma’s Silk Road Ensemble and leads camps across the United states and in China. He is an associate professor at the Berklee College of Music in Boston where he lives with musician and fellow faculty member and professional fiddler, Hanneke Cassel.
The first camp was held in 2010 at Storm Grove Middle School, followed by a year at Vero Beach High School. Since 2014, it has been held at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach.
Dr. Jacob Craig, the church director of music and arts, and an accomplished jazz pianist and competitive bagpipe player, has hosted the event since 2022.
Details of the organization, the musicians and the festival can be found at the Vero Beach International Music Festival website, along with additional information about the Mike Block String Camp.
Where is the Vero Beach International Music Festival held and when is the next one?
The concerts are at First Presbyterian Church of Vero Beach, 520 Royal Palm Blvd., on two days in July and are held during the camp, which is also at the church. In 2025 those dates were July 9 and 12. Dates for 2026 are not yet scheduled.
What would patrons see if they attended the Vero Beach International Music Festival?
At the first concert, the professional musicians and faculty of the string camp perform a two-hour set of arrangements across the various styles of music in which they specialize or have classical training, such as folk Scottish or Irish, Americana, classical or jazz fusion.
At the second concert, students perform.
What demographic is the festival geared toward?
Anyone who enjoys hearing and watching skilled musicians perform live should attend.
The event is indoors at the church and at 7:30 p.m., so all age groups should be able to attend without any difficulty or concern for the weather.
What is the cost?
The first performance is typically around $25. The second by students is usually free to attend with donations going to help pay for scholarships to the camp. The camp is attended by players from Vero Beach, across the United States and international students of all ages and skill levels.
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This article originally appeared on Treasure Coast Newspapers: Staff Pick: Vero Beach International Music Festival showcases musicians
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