"Music can change the world" - Ludwig Von Beethoven
Emerald Coast Music Alliance (ECMA) is the brainchild of Alon Goldstein, an Israeli-born pianist who has played all over the world. In 2017, Goldstein formed the group in the hopes of keeping the magic of the arts, specifically the art of classical music, alive. The ECMA works in partnership with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra and relies on donations to fund its efforts. Since its inception, Emerald Coast Music Alliance has held week-long festivals each January across Northwest Florida. Goldstein brings world class musicians to perform for populations who would normally not have access to such; elementary through high school students, facilities for special needs populations, autism centers, assisted living and senior centers, and child care programs.
In 2017, Goldstein and other distinguished musicians performed at five venues serving youth and adults. In 2018, the program expanded to a piano and string quartet which performed at 15 locations. In 2019, Goldstein brought the Grammy-nominated cellist Amit Peled and the Peabody Cello Gang, a group of gifted students from the Peabody Institute in Baltimore, to perform 25 times in 17 different locations. The 2020 Festival grew to over 40 performances, featuring Alon Goldstein, four of Goldstein's student pianists - who in one performance were simultaneously playing on one piano. Guest musicians included a Brass Quintet and Concert Artist Guild International Competition winners; JiJi, a classical guitarist, and Mitya Nilov, a percussionist. 2021 brought new challenges; a worldwide pandemic prevented in-person concerts. The Festival was extended to three weeks, enabling fourteen gifted artists to perform 63 concerts via streaming technology, while interacting with their audiences. 2021 has become the most successful and ambitious Festival in our 5 years!