Summer Concert Series
In 1985, Dr. Paul Blaney (a member of Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ and administrator at the University of Miami) initiated a Summer Concert Series composed primarily of up-and-coming local artists. The historic Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ (CGCC)–with its central location, Spanish-revival style architecture, and acoustically pleasing and uniquely intimate environment–became an immediate attraction for audiences and concert artists. The success of initial concerts catapulted the Series into a yearly roster of world-renowned classical and jazz artists who appear in major concert halls around the world.
In 2002, current Executive & Artistic Director Mark Hart formed the Coral Gables Congregational United Church of Christ (CGCC) Community Arts Program (CAP) to (a) engage greater community outreach initiatives with concerts, music education, instrument and ensemble training and performance opportunities through a CGCC CAP Conservatory for the Arts curriculum and (b) Young Musicians’ Summer Master Classes which provide children (and the young-at-heart) with professional insights and coaching by artists appearing on the CGCC CAP Summer Concert Series.