Welcome
to the Emerald Coast Concert Association Online. Your Online home for concerts
and arts education in Okaloosa County.
ECCA
is celebrating the excitement of live entertainment and
cultural experiences to the Emerald Coast of Florida.
The Emerald Coast Concert Association's
purpose is to present, promote, and sponsor the highest quality, artistically
and culturally diverse performing arts performances from stages around the world
and to provide educational opportunities to the youth of Okaloosa County in
conjunction with these performances.
2009-2010 OFFICERS
AND BOARD MEMBERS
President Susan Kneller
Vice President
Gordon Hurd
Secretary Johann Behnken
Treasurer
Nita Wilkinson
VP for Membership
Ray Ayotte
Aide to VP for Membership
Ken Hammerberg
Chair: Spec. Arrangements Becky Belcher
Chair: Publicity & Advertise Ursel Behnken
Ways ans Means (Ads)
TBA
Ways and Means (Merchandise) Joan
Salazar
Ways and Means (Merchandise) Joe
Salazar
Chair Grants
Cyndi Carlson
Outreach Programs
Cyndi Carlson
Aide to Publicity & Advertise Gloria
Troiano
Chair: Calling Committee Gloria Troiano
ADA Facilitator
Gloria Troiano
Outreach Programs Sue Lambert
Co-Chair: Ways & Means Joan Salazar
Co-Chair: Ways & Means Joe Salazar
Chair: Grants Becky
Belcher
Historian, Outreach Programs Nita Wilkinson
Special Arrangements Nita Wilkinson
Webmaster Bill Zuppa
"Shade Tree Sound" Tech Joe Minnamon
"Shade Tree Sound" Tech Paul Soukup
Friends of ECCA (backstage) Scott VanDyke
Friends of ECCA Dave & Mila Emerson
Friends of ECCA Sylvia Hammerberg
Friends of ECCA
Sue Lambert
Friends of ECCA Chuck (Charles) Neill
Friends of ECCA Bill & Debbie Seidl
Playground Music
Tony Leonard
Honorary Director(Life Member)
Kelly Bennett
Honorary Director(Life Member) Gwen Hansen
Honorary Director(Life Member) Frances Patrick
Honorary Director(Life Member) Eunice Willi
History of E.C.C.A.
The Emerald Coast Concert
Association, Inc., a state-chartered, non- profit Organization, was founded in
1960 as the Playground Mutual Concert Association. Concerned by the lack of
cultural events in the Ft. Walton Beach area, local residents thought of a way
to bring wonderful music and dance from across the United States and around the
world to our front door through the presentation of an annual series of public
concerts.
Still a viable and important
supplier of outstanding entertainment, the group consists only of volunteers.
They are your neighbors and derive pleasure from their efforts to bring culture
and entertainment through the performing arts to the citizens of the Emerald
Coast. Year after year, they arrange concerts to appeal to the many and varied
interests of the audience. If you would like to become part of this group,
please click on the "Join ECCA" tab above.
Patron memberships, season
memberships, corporate sponsorships, and individual ticket sales go toward the
purchase of concerts and the organization's operating expenses. E.C.C.A. is granted
tax exemption under Section 501 (c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code. Contributions
are deductible as provided in Section 170 of the Code.
In recent years
E.C.C.A.
has reached out into the schools, affording students the opportunity to see
professional performers up close School performances are provided FREE to
requesting schools. .
E.C.C.A. also works closely with organizations serving the
handicapped and elderly of Okaloosa County and provides free or discount tickets
for public performances.
This season, the
E.C.C.A. will
venture into a totally new realm as we attempt to encourage appreciation of the
performing arts among the children of Okaloosa County. We will be supporting the
grassroots efforts of two local children's theatre groups.
ECCA Mission
The purpose of the Emerald
Coast Concert Association is to provide an annual series of concerts/programs
that enhance the cultural environment of the communities of the Emerald Coast of
Northwest Florida. It strives to serve the citizens of Ft. Walton Beach,
Shalimar, Niceville, Valparaiso, Mary Esther, Cinco Bayou, Destin, Crestview,
and the surrounding rural/unincorporated areas of Okaloosa County and its
neighbors.
NEW DIRECTIONS
New Directions is
E.C.C.A.'s
program in support of Children's Theatre. Beginning with the 2001-2002 Concert
Series, the Emerald Coast Concert Association has aligned itself with two local
organizations which encourage the youth of Okaloosa County to participate in
live theatre productions presented for the enjoyment of the community. As a
tax-exempt, 501(c)3 organization, we will provide a working umbrella for these
two groups to use to secure funding from grant sources.
E.C.C.A. also provides
technical and financial assistance for these newly formed theatres.
The first organization is located in the Niceville/Valparaiso area and is The
On-Stage Children's Community Theatre. This organization is completely run by
students with guidance from adults. Productions are held in a variety of
locations: outdoors at the amphitheater in the Niceville Children's Park, in the
Niceville Council Chambers, and in local retirement homes and the American
Legion Hall. So far this group has presented six productions to full houses. For
more information on the On-Stage organization, call Bretta Berger at
850-376-3311.
The second organization is from the Ft. Walton Beach area and is "OZ" The
Emerald Coast Children's Community Theatre. "Oz" is an ensemble of professional
young artists that bring enthusiasm, creativity, and an abundance of energy to
the live stage in Okaloosa County, Florida. They strive to make live theatre an
integral part of the childhood experience for all young people. The McArthur's
"Oz" Theatre is located on Max Bruner Middle School campus in Fort Walton Beach,
Florida. The theatre is a modern facility complete with stadium seating and a
state of the art light and sound system. This group has undertaken several major
productions and has played to sold-out crowds at its performances. For more
information on the "Oz" Theatre, call 850-654-1282 or visit them on the web at
www.oztheatre.com.
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