Ian Fraser

Pre-concert chats are delivered to the audience by Ian Fraser for all of the South Florida Symphony classical concerts performed at The Parker in Fort Lauderdale. The pre-concert chats begin 30 minutes before the start of each concert. Fraser is an emeritus professor of art history with a lifelong love of classical music. While living in London as a young man, he sang bass with the London Philharmonic Choir under many world-renowned conductors of the day. Throughout his many years teaching art history in Indianapolis, his avocation continued to be music both symphonic and chamber.

Upon retirement, Fraser and his partner, Ambrose Smith, began wintering in Key West. To say that they were thrilled to discover that a brilliant young musical conductor, Sebrina María Alfonso, had the temerity to start a symphony orchestra in that small town, is a major understatement. They attended the very first concert, recognized her enormous talent and became devotees. During the last two decades, Ian has followed the progress of the Key West Symphony Orchestra as it grew and morphed into the outstanding South Florida Symphony Orchestra of today. As a layman who has enjoyed a lifetime of musical listening, he continues to delight audiences with a wealth of quirky insights into the music, the composer who created it, and the era in which it was written.

Dr. Alan Mason

Pre-concert chats are delivered to the audience by Dr. Alan Mason for the South Florida Symphony classical concerts performed at Temple Israel of Greater Miami.
Dr. Mason received the Bachelor of Music and Master of Music degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, and the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the University of Miami. Alan had a 32 year career as a professor on four different college campuses before retiring from Barry University as an Associate Professor of Music. Alan is one of the nation's most noted accompanists to cantors and sacred Jewish music concerts, conferences, conventions, and events, He is a regular accompanist for the Union for Reform Judaism, the Cantors Assembly, the American Conference of Cantors, the Jewish Theological Seminary, the Guild of Temple Musicians, and the Zamir Choral Foundation. Alan is the conductor of HaZamir Miami, a chapter of HaZamir: The International Jewish Teen Choir, and is a Past President of the Guild of Temple Musicians. Alan is the Musical Director at Bet Shira Congregation in Miami, Florida.