Less than four miles from the Frost School of Music's campus is McBride Plaza at 150 Miracle Mile. Every other Thursday night, from five-thirty to seven-thirty in the evening until April 6, this downtown plaza gets loud.
That's thanks to an exciting collaboration between the City of Coral Gables, the Arthur B. McBride Sr. Family Foundation, and the Frost School of Music at the University of Miami. This creative partnership offers equal enjoyment for the Frost-built talent performing and the local community who stop by to tune in.
The "Music at McBride Plaza" free concert series showcases a mix of pop, jazzy, and classical tunes each week. Bands like Sunny Side Up!, Grande, John Normandin, Austin Muthyala Quintet, and the Henry Mancini Institute String Quartet, get to show off their talents in an open, local setting easily accessible to businesspeople, families, and visitors alike.
"The music nights were created from an education standpoint to merge and expand performance opportunities for students," says Barbara Tria, a broker with Coral Pine Real Estate, who brought Frost and the City of Coral Gables together to carry what happens inside the Frost campus to this outdoor plaza.
"Incredible world-class musicians study at Frost," continues Tria. "The students come from all over the world; they're the best of the best. So, to be able to hear their music in an outdoor setting at no charge . . . for someone who might not necessarily be a music lover, it breaks the ice for them and perhaps opens the door for them to visit other performances at Frost. From a cultural perspective, the concert series also sparks people's curiosity, encouraging them to discover more about what we're doing in the downtown area. It's a special opportunity for everybody."
Music puts a smile on people's faces, she observes. With that thought in mind, the McBride family didn't just create this lush and entertaining outdoor space to be a hub for the community to connect, shop and dine; but for it to be a relaxing place where they could stand, pass by, or sit back to listen to beautiful music—for a full session or just a song.
The Frost School of Music students undergo a rigorous selection process. They audition for a renowned faculty, who select the top six groups to perform during the Spring semester. The chosen groups typically represent various musical genres, making each concert a unique and wonderful experience for all.
"Connecting people with each other and with us is a big thing," says music scoring and production major Aron Stornaiuolo, lead vocalist, songwriter, and guitarist for Sunny Side Up! This jazz-pop band, formed in 2021, is comprised by Stornaiuolo, joined by jazz instrumental and performance major Zach Levine on drums, jazz instrumental and performance major Nolan Slate on saxophone, and music engineering major Jake Sonderman on bass.
"Performing is fun for us," he adds. "And spreading the fun is important, especially when people might have had a tough or boring week at their jobs and are looking for a night of entertainment. The Coral Gables city is providing a great opportunity for us, and we're grateful to provide a service through our art to the local community."
Sunny Side Up! is regarded as one of the most popular bands made of Frost musicians. They're an integral part of the success of Patio Jams, a Hurricane Productions concert series happening every Thursday afternoon [12:15 pm - 1:30 pm] in the heart of the U—the Lakeside Patio—where students study, dine, socialize, and kick back as they listen to cool rhythms and vibes.
These four sophomores are seeing a childhood hobby transform into their dream careers. They can be seen performing their music at great spots like McBride Plaza on March 2, making the most of opportunities like that while working on landing others, such as recording studio sessions, amongst other things.
"We're looking into recording, but we want to get as much practice as possible," says Levine, whose plan is to solidify the band's sound. "We're not losing our focus on school. We all have different majors, so we also have individual goals outside of the band. We play on and off campus, building our fan base with every gig and on Instagram—taking every opportunity as they come and continuing with the individual goals that we aren't willing to forego."
"It is special when people connect with your music when touched by the sounds you play. That's cool," concluded Slate.
Upcoming acts include:
- Feb. 23: John Normandin Quartet (Jazz)
- March 2:Sunny Side Up! (Indie Pop/Jazz)
- March 23: Henry Mancini Institute (HMI) String Quartet (Classical with a twist)
- April 6: Austin Muthyala Quintet (Jazz)
