DEERING ESTATE TO COMBINE MUSIC AND HISTORY THIS SUMMER

Melina Soochan performs as part of Deering Estate Summer Cabaret Concerts. Photo credit Adam Fine.

The Deering Estate’s Stone house that was once used to showcase industrialist’s Charles Deering’s valuable art collection is now showcasing another form of art, music.

The Summer Cabaret Concert Series, starting on Saturday, June 10th, features Jazz vocalists Lennis Sabatino, Alejandro Elizondo and Melina Soochan.

While the music is set to be very special and the performances intimate, the location is quite the hidden gem, obvious to anyone walking down the rocky path that leads to sweeping water views.

“Something that makes these concerts unique is its location,” says Jenna Noordhoek, Deering’s special events coordinator. “Being in a historical building right there on Biscayne Bay is where we highlight ourselves.”

For artists like singer-songwriter, Melina Soochan, her performance on August 26th is made even more special because it will be her first performance, alongside her husband, Elijah Gee, as a married couple.

Jazz duo Melina Soochan and Elijah Gee perform together on August 26th. Photo credit Adam Fine.

Soochan and Gee, a jazz pianist, will be performing songs from what she calls a showcase of “inspirational song writers through space and time.”

Her repertoire will include music from as far as back as the 20s and 30s, including American Jazz from some of the greats like Billie Holiday and Ella Fitzgerald along with some international classics.

“I am going to visit France a little bit, I am going to visit Brazil with the Bossa Nova, and a lot of American and some Canadian,”says Soochan, a Montreal native. “(The audience) can expect a lot of music from the Jazz era and the Motown period up to til today.”

Deering Estate to host Summer Cabaret Series. Image courtesy Deering Estate.

While most events at Deering are held outdoors, the Cabaret Concert Series is the only annual event held indoors, making weather a non-factor. However, since Covid, changes have been made.

“We used to sell the tickets individually (but) due to social distancing we decided to sell by the table and allow up to four people to sit at each table,” says Noordhooek,“this also allowed for more intimacy because more people would come for date night, so we decided to keep it that way.”

For $120, guests get a table for four and are welcome to bring their own picnic baskets and coolers. Deering will host a cash bar for wine.

“It is such a cute thing to see because people will bring their wine glasses, bottles of champagne and have their full spread set up on the table,” says Noordhooek.

IF YOU GO:

WHAT: Summer Cabaret Concert Series

WHERE: Deering Estate’s Stone House, 16701 SW 72nd ave., Palmetto Bay, FL 33157.

WHEN: 8 p.m. Saturdays, June 10th, July 22nd and August 26th. Gates open at 7 p.m.

TICKETS: $120 per table of four.

INFORMATION: 305-235-1668 or deeringestate.org

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