The Palm Court Society Orchestra

The Palm Court Society Orchestra is a salon orchestra, specializing in the musical styles of the early 20th Century. And in particular, we love to play tangos. So why does a collection of busy professional musicians take the time to form a group such as this? We love the music, we are very interested in the performance styles of the period, we enjoy doing something different, and we welcome an opportunity to bring our own unique ideas into the creative process.

Tango orchestras are very popular in Europe, as well as in New York and California. The music is gaining popularity again and can be heard frequently on television and in movie soundtracks. The Palm Court Society Orchestra is the first group to bring back this wonderful music to Northeast Florida since the grand days of the luxury hotels and resorts of 1900’s era Florida.

Our style: The Fascination of Continental tensions, Macho Rhythms, And the Elusiveness of the Latin Melody combined to form the Tango. A typical program will include the entire range of the tango style, from the most popular early tango, La Cumparsita, through the languid El Seduccion and El Irresistible, to the modern Libertango.

Palm Court Society Orchestra Members:
       Glynda Newton - Violin
              Max Huls - Violin
                    Scott Watkins - Piano
                          Landon Walker - String Bass
                                 Cliff Newton - Cornet
                                        Dennis Hunsicker - Accordion

TESTIMONIALS

On behalf of the City of St. Augustine's Department of Heritage Tourism, I would like to express our gratitude and sincere appreciation to y our for your support during the last several years. Your professionalism and genius during your performances have been a tremendous help in making our events successful.

It has been a delight working with your almost since your creation and a pleasure being associated with such a capable, and above al, dependable group. We are constantly looking for those people who have exceptional skills to give to our community.

With your complete knowledge and broad experience in the musical world, you have filled a great need in our organization. On special occasions such as the visit from the King and Queen of Spain, St. Augustine shone brightly around the world due in part to your dynamic performance.

The Palm Court Society Orchestra possesses an outstanding abundance of energy and self-motivation. This combined with knowledge and versatility has made each of your performances, whether Victorian or Spanish, tango or waltz, a masterful work of art.

I recommend and praise you often. I look forward to working with you again this year.

-N. Rogero Holton, Events and Trust Coordinator, City of St. Augustine, Department of Heritage Tourism

I would like to thank the Palm Court Society Orchestra for the wonderful performances that were a feature of the Bistro Nights programming relating to the special exhibition, Toulouse Lautrec: Artist of Montmartre. The Palm Court Society Orchestra members' talent and professionalism were an important part of the atmosphere of the four evenings and the public responded enthusiastically to your choice of period appropriate musical selections.

Thank you again for your flexibility and for helping make this series a success!

-T. L. Jones, Curator of Education, The Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens

We were very pleased with the Palm Court Society Orchestra. It was a worry free event. They came, set up and played beautifully. We were able to coordinate their breaks to our schedule of speakers and everything went smoothly. I would contact them again for any future functions and recommend them to my friends. Thank you very much!

-S. Cohrs, IEEE Conference