FORK ON THE ROAD

music

THE

All the right notes

Venues big and small host all genres of music in Lake County.

Lake County has venues and events to suit every music lover’s tastes, from Rachmanino to rock ’n’ roll.

FLORIDA LAKES SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

includes more than 60 musicians from around the world. Concert master and violin soloist Konstantin Dimitrov has anchored the orchestra since 2006.

FLORIDA LAKES SYMPHONY ORCHESTRA

CLERMONT PERFORMING ARTS CENTER

Now entering its 15th season, the orchestra stages a concert series of contemporary songs and classics as well as a chamber series at Epiphany Celebration Anglican Church in Eustis, and Family Christian Center in Clermont. The 2019-20 concert series, featuring six guest conductors, includes “Legends & Heroes,” patriotic poetry in music; “Dream of Angels,” the annual Christmas performance; “Shalom,” a Jewish festival; “Vienna Woods,” a springtime celebration; “Wind, Fire & Ice,” highlighting Tchaikovsky’s Piano Concerto No. 1; and “Cherry Blossoms,” a Japanese teahouse show. The chamber series is yet to be announced.

CLERMONT PERFORMING

ARTS CENTER o ers a little bit of everything on its main stage and, naturally, that includes musical theater and concerts. The theme for 2019-20 is “Impressions in Time,” and includes entertainer Tony Danza and his four-piece band’s hit show, “Standards & Stories”; “Celtic Yuletide” from “Riverdance” tenor Michael Londra; the popular “Nunsense” play performed by the Moonlight Players troupe; “Stars of the Sixties with Herman’s Hermits”; “1964 The Tribute” for Beatles fans; “Hotel California,” the original tribute to the Eagles; and the comic opera “The Pirates of Penzance.”

MOUNT DORA COMMUNITY

BUILDING has an intimate 600seat theater that has become a popular venue for rock road warriors and tribute bands. In recent years, the theater has hosted Nitty Gritty Dirt Band, Blue Öyster Cult, Queen Nation, a tribute to Queen, True Rumors, which plays Fleetwood Mac songs, and a Quadraphonic Surround Sound multimedia presentation of Pink Floyd and Led Zeppelin music. Three tribute artists will present “3 Eras of Elvis” on Nov. 15.

BUDDY BLUES BAND AT LAKERIDGE WINERY & VINEYARDS

LAKERIDGE WINERY &

VINEYARDS in Clermont hosts an annual free Summer Music Series each Saturday in July. Rock, blues, and pop bands perform on the outdoor stage on the grounds of the winery, and solo acts play at the Wine & Cheese Bar upstairs in the winery. One of the largest outdoor venues in the region also hosts musical acts during other events throughout the year, such as the annual three-day BBQ and Blues Festival set for Oct. 11-13. The lineup includes Beautiful Bobby Blackmon & the B3 Blues Band, Buddy Blues Band, and Marc Clermont & Blues Train.

Several cities in Lake County devote annual festivals to various musical genres. The Lake County Folk Festival is scheduled for Oct. 5 in downtown Eustis and Ferran Park on Lake Eustis. Started in 1997, the event is the longestrunning free folk festival in the state of Florida. About 50 groups play folk, Americana, blues, Celtic, bluegrass, and gospel music.

Each March, the BBQ, Brews, & Blues festival serves up electri ing blues, as well as all-you-can-eat