FGO Launches Crowdfunding Campaign

Florida Grand Opera (FGO), with the support of the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science (Frost Science), announced today that they have launched a campaign to raise funds via a rewards / equity crowdfunding campaign on Indiegogo.com to sponsor the recording of Stars and Distances, a "musical soundscape" composition by award-winning and internationally-renowned composer Fredrick Kaufman.

The organization sets out to raise approximately $47,000 on Indiegogo to finish the recording and production of the composition which will serve as a special soundtrack for the new Frost Planetarium at the new location of the Frost Science in downtown Miami's Museum Park.

"FGO and Frost Science are on a mission to turn Miami into a world-class arts, culture, and education destination," says Susan T. Danis, General Director and CEO of Florida Grand Opera. "We are now turning to the community to help fund this project so Frost Science can reach the level of excellence Miami deserves."

Kaufman's Stars and Distances was conducted by Maestro Andrew Bisantz, recorded by PARMA Records, and sung by Florida Grand Opera's current and past Young Artists, along with several additional vocalists from Florida International University and the Miami community (a full list is supplied at the end of this release), at Florida International University's Dr. Herbert and Nicole Wertheim Performing Arts Center concert hall.

The crowdfunding campaign, titled "Shooting for the Stars...and Distances," will be hosted on Indiegogo.com and will run from today, October 1, 2015 through Sunday, October 31, 2015. Both organizations plan to heavily promote this campaign across their social media networks and other digital platforms. Additionally, a variety of giving incentives, or "perks," will be offered for donations at various levels. Perks range from a personalized "thank you" letter signed by the composer to an exclusive hard hat tour of the new Frost Planetarium.

Should the crowdfunding campaign be successful, FGO and Frost Science hope to make the recording available for commercial release and serve as one of the auditory companions to the Frost Planetarium's presentations. Additionally, FGO's current Young Artists, led again by Bisantz, would perform Stars and Distances live at an exclusive event in 2016.

"The Miami community is greatly anticipating the new Frost Science, which will feature a state-of-the-art, multi-million dollar planetarium. Kaufman's Stars and Distances is a stunning composition which really does provide a musical perspective to the cosmos," Danis continues. "We are truly honored that Frost Science and Fredrick Kaufman have chosen Florida Grand Opera to be part of the special soundtrack of this prestigious institution. I sincerely hope you choose to support this campaign so FGO can continue to innovate well into the future.

To learn more about the crowdfunding campaign, or to make a donation, please visit: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/shooting-for-the-stars-and-distances