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A string quartet played spooky classics during a Candlelight concert last October at the First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach. (Kari Barnett\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\nThe amber glow of flickering flameless candles bounces off stained-glass windows in a historic church as a string quartet plays a reimagined version of Taylor Swift\u2019s \u201cShake It Off.\u201d<\/p>\n
The whole sanctuary shimmering, it\u2019s an intimate evening of music, with every pluck and bow feeling more like eavesdropping on a private conversation than a public performance.<\/p>\n
A wave of concerts by LED candlelight is making its way through South Florida, with an illuminated lineup that includes pop-up performances, a summer symphony series and a one-time show chock-full of rock anthems.<\/p>\n
Find the right glow for you at atmospheric live music experiences taking place at a variety of venues throughout Palm Beach, Broward, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties.<\/p>\n
Candlelight<\/p>\n
The aptly-named Candelight concerts were launched in 2019 by Fever, a New York City-based event producer, with the goal of making classical music more accessible to a wider audience, according to company spokesman Oliver Davies.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe concept reimagined the traditional concert format by introducing shorter, 60-minute performances in unique venues, combined with a more diverse repertoire that includes both classical masterpieces and modern music tributes,\u201d he said. \u201cSince then, Candlelight has grown rapidly, reaching hundreds of cities in over 40 countries and welcoming millions of attendees worldwide.\u201d<\/p>\n
These unique venues include not only churches and historic buildings, but also\u00a0cultural and arts centers, landmarks and scenic outdoor spaces.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe atmosphere is designed to feel warm and welcoming, with close proximity to the performers and moments of interaction throughout the show,\u201d Davies said. \u201cThe result is a more relaxed, engaging alternative to traditional classical concerts \u2014 one that prioritizes emotional connection and accessibility.\u201d<\/p>\n
A string quartet played spooky classics during a Candlelight concert last October at the First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach. (Kari Barnett\/South Florida Sun Sentinel)<\/p>\n
Helping fuel Candlelight\u2019s popularity are the classical reinterpretations across pop, rock and jazz genres, among others. Local musicians perform a curated program that blends everything from Vivaldi and Chopin to Coldplay and Queen, Davies said.<\/p>\n
Upcoming Fort Lauderdale shows include a \u201cTribute to Bad Bunny<\/a>\u201d at Savor Cinema (May 16) as well as tributes to ABBA<\/a> and to Coldplay\/Imagine Dragons<\/a> at The Sanctuary Church FTL (both May 30).<\/p>\n The First Presbyterian Church of West Palm Beach will feature tributes to Queen<\/a> and Fleetwood Mac<\/a> (May 23) as well as to The Beatles<\/a> and \u201c90s Hip-Hop on Strings<\/a>\u201d (May 30).<\/p>\n \u201cThemed experiences tied to film, television and special occasions such as \u2018Bridgerton,\u2019 \u2018The Lord of the Rings,\u2019 Valentine\u2019s Day, Halloween and Christmas tend to perform especially well,\u201d Davies said.<\/p>\n Fever analyzes audience feedback and cultural trends to continuously refresh programming, explore different themes and expand into new cities and venues, he said.<\/p>\n \u201cOne of the most distinctive aspects of Candlelight is its ability to create meaningful, memorable moments,\u201d Davies said.<\/p>\n If you go: Ticket prices vary. Find shows throughout South Florida at candlelightexperience.com.<\/a><\/p>\n The Summer with the Symphony chamber music series returns with seven candlelit concerts from May 14 to July 24 in Fort Lauderdale, Coral Gables and Key West. Plus, you can meet and greet the musicians after shows.<\/p>\n \u201cThe series got a post-pandemic reimagining, launched in 2021 as Summer with the Symphony, as a more immersive and intimate experience,\u201d said Sebrina Mar\u00eda Alfonso, South Florida Symphony Orchestra\u2019s music director. \u201cChamber music, by its very definition, is meant to be played in smaller rooms, and this style of music was originally performed in chambers such as bedrooms, private libraries and salons.\u201d<\/p>\n She said the summer performances imbue a \u201cwarm and inviting\u201d atmosphere.<\/p>\n \u201cSummer is hot in Florida, why not cool down with beautiful music and a relaxing ambience?\u201d Alfonso said. \u201cThe candlelight adds a nice soft glow to the concerts, making them feel more intimate.\u201d<\/p>\n The series also helps bridge the gap during a time when many performing arts organizations go dark in the spring and reawaken in the fall, she said.<\/p>\n \u201cOur chamber series helps us stay connected to our audiences when the pace is slower and [helps] us to meet new music lovers who may not visit us in the concert hall,\u201d Alfonso said. \u201cIt\u2019s a great way to keep cultural offerings flowing and accessible during the off-season, and most importantly, they\u2019re fun.\u201d<\/p>\n The musical selections are curated by South Florida Symphony Orchestra pianist Catherine Lan.<\/p>\n \u201cShe does a terrific job blending well-known masterpieces with lesser-known or less frequently performed works,\u201d Alfonso said. \u201cFor example, we open the series in May with Schubert\u2019s super popular Piano Quintet in A major, also known as \u2018The Trout.\u2019 Anyone with a Samsung washing machine has heard the jingle. That\u2019s the tune that\u2019s played when it\u2019s time to put your clothes in the dryer. People love it.\u201d<\/p>\n June puts the focus on female composers Louise Farrenc and Dora Peja\u010devi\u0107, while July pairs the sounds of Anton\u00edn Dvo\u0159\u00e1k with Ern\u0151 Dohn\u00e1nyi, who both blend native folk rhythms into classical music, she said.<\/p>\n Stay after the concert to mingle with the musicians.\u00a0\u201cChef extraordinaire Lenore Nolan Ryan graciously prepares a delicious libation and a sweet treat to cap a perfect evening of music,\u201d Alfonso said.<\/p>\n If you go: General admission tickets for each program are $40 ($20 for students) with a three-concert package available for $99. For the Key West performance, tickets range from $33.44 to $49.04. Visit southfloridasymphony.org.<\/a><\/p>\n The Rock Orchestra By Candlelight<\/p>\n \u201cLadies and gentleman, we gather here today to witness the marriage of classical music and the power of rock.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"Performing](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TFL-L-CANDLELIGHT-CONCERTS-0429-03.jpg\")
The Summer with the Symphony chamber series will include musicians Huifang Chen (violin), Tao Lin (piano) and Christopher Glansdorp (cello). (Catherine Lan\/South Florida Symphony Orchestra\/Courtesy)
\nSouth Florida Symphony Orchestra<\/p>\n![\"South](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/TFL-L-CANDLELIGHT-CONCERTS-0429-04.jpg\")
South Florida Symphony Orchestra pianist Catherine Lan has curated the program for Summer with the Symphony. (Catherine Lan\/South Florida Symphony Orchestra\/Courtesy)<\/p>\n