The Heart of Music is led by Corina Donica, David Donica and Ben Lountchenko. Corina Donica is the lower school string adjunct on ESJ’s St. Mark’s Campus and the string ensemble instructor on the Munnerlyn Campus. The Heart of Music is a nonprofit organization whose mission includes providing opportunities for young musicians to learn, create and perform alongside professional musicians.
The partnership includes a Christmas performance by The Heart of Music on Dec. 16. The concert features a 50-piece orchestra and singers will perform favorite Christmas songs along with original instrumental pieces. A children's symphony orchestra will also perform as a special guest, including ESJ students from the strings programs on the Munnerlyn and St. Mark’s campuses.
Performance times are 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. in the Deming Theatre Munnerlyn Center for Worship and Fine Arts at the Episcopal School of Jacksonville, 4455 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville.
Tickets are $20-40 and can be purchased at heartofmusic.art/christmas-orchestra-concert.
“Art making is by nature collaborative. ESJ is blessed with one of the most beautiful and fully equipped proscenium stages in the city. We want to be an effective resource for art making, cultural advancement and community engagement,” said Katie Lebhar Black-Bowling '95, director of fine arts.
Episcopal began the "Episcopal & Jacksonville: Partners in Arts" program in 2018 to connect with and support local artists and art organizations in an effort to strengthen the connection between the school and local artists, galleries and companies, as well as to produce high-quality performances and exhibitions that generate educational and cultural connections.
ESJ aims to be an effective resource for art making, cultural advancement and community engagement, ensuring arts partnerships and related events tangibly demonstrate to ESJ student artists that they can indeed pursue their passions after graduating as many artists in Jacksonville actively do.
Episcopal endeavors to raise the profile of the city as a place where the arts are alive and thriving. Past Partners include Jacksonville Dance Theatre, Barbara Colaciello of Babs’Lab, Indigo Art Therapy and the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens.
