February 29 – March 16, 2008

The Centre for the Arts at Mizner Park will be hosting its second annual Festival of the Arts BOCA, an unprecedented cultural arts festival for South Florida that will span seventeen full days. The Festival, to be held at the Count De Hoernle Amphitheater in Boca Raton, Florida, will feature the finest in music, art, literature, film, food and wine.

Festival of the Arts BOCA is a partnership with IMG Artists, a leader in worldwide cultural arts management. IMG Artists also produces two world-renowned festivals, Tuscan Sun Festival, a late-summer festival in Cortona, Italy and Festival del Sole Napa, a mid-July festival in Napa Valley, California.

For its second season in Boca, Centre for the Arts and IMG Artists have aligned an impressive roster of international artists. Daily concerts will feature top names in classical, opera, jazz and Latin music, while literary discussions and readings will be presented by leading authors. Kicking off the Festival music series - the Gipsy Kings will be entertaining the audience with hot rhythms and dance inspiring sounds.  Their music has been described as a place where "Spanish flamenco and Romani rhapsody meet salsa funk."  Returning favorites include the Russian National Orchestra, under the direction of Teodor Currentzis and Claus Peter Flor. Opening night will debut with internationally renowned Chinese pianist Lang Lang. The Festival will continue with other music virtuosos such as violinist Joshua Bell and The 5 Browns, a youthful quintet of pianist brothers and sisters.  Conrad Tao, the amazing 13 year old award-winning pianist and composer will also grace the stage.

Other returning artists include internationally acclaimed flutists Sir James and Lady Jeanne Galway. Miami-based, Grammy-nominated Tiempo Libre, one of the hottest Latin bands in the U.S. will also return.

The jazz programming has been extended and will include greats such as Pat Metheny, a sixteen-time Grammy winning guitarist; Chick Corea, one of the most prolific jazz pianists of the 20th century; and Gary Burton, five-time Grammy winning vibraphonist.

The Festival will be filled with exquisite entertainment from start to finish. The final day will feature American soprano Renée Fleming, described as the “gold standard of the soprano sound.”

Pre- and post-concert events will be held, offering an opportunity for enthusiasts to meet and socialize with artists in attendance.

Additionally, the Festival brings the opportunity to attend literature programs, lectures and receptions featuring noted authors.

This year, Boca Bacchanal, presented by the Boca Raton Historical Society, will kick-off the Festival and will feature three days of celebration of food and wine. Boca Bacchanal will host Vintner Dinners in private homes, The Bacchanal & Auction at the Boca Raton Resort & Club, and The Grand Tasting at the Amphitheater.

An important component of the Festival is reaching out to students and young artists to give them exposure to world-class artists performing at the Festival. Attendance at rehearsals, participation in Master Classes and opportunities to meet performers and, in some cases, work with them, will again be part of the Festival’s scheduled educational activities.