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Cultural Opportunities
 The Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center - located at the Niceville campus of Northwest Florida State College (formerly Okaloosa-Walton College) is the region’s premiere venue for outstanding entertainment and cultural events. Now in its 12th year, the Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWF State College hosts Broadway’s best touring shows, art exhibits, and cultural performances of all genres. The center is also the home venue of the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra. The center is located on eastern edge of the college’s Niceville campus at 100 College Blvd, just minutes from Destin and Fort Walton Beach.
The Mattie Kelly Arts Center at NWF State College is a $25 million, 12-acre complex featuring: a main stage theater that seats 1,650; a flexible theater with seating for 195; art galleries which feature touring exhibits and house the college’s multi-million dollar permanent art collection; a recital hall; a visual arts building; an outdoor amphitheater which accommodates up to 3,500 people; and instructional facilities for the college’s Humanities, Fine & Performing Arts Division.
In addition to touring shows, several college performing groups provide public performances throughout the year at the Mattie Kelly Arts Center, including the Soundsations Showchoir, Dance Ensemble, Jazz Band, Madrigal Singers, Northwest Florida Youth Symphony Orchestra and more.
For more information about programs and performances at the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center at NWF State College, call the box office at 850-729-6000 or visit the center’s new website at www.mattiekellyartscenter.org. Online ticket sales are available for most events.
Stage Crafters Community Theater, Inc. - has developed a well-deserved reputation for quality theater and audience appeal. They produce at least four shows per season and offer a variety of music, comedy, drama and mystery. Membership and auditions are open to the public. (243-1101)
 Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra - at Northwest Florida State College has been the region’s premier, professional symphony. Now entering its 22nd season, the NFSO’s professional musicians and renowned guest artists perform under the baton of music director and conductor Jeffrey Rink. The NFSO offers the highest quality classical and new orchestral repertoire performed in the mainstage theater of the Mattie Kelly Fine & Performing Arts Center in Niceville and also presents other musical events throughout the year.
The volunteer members of the NFSO Guild support the orchestra, host an annual concerto competition for area youth, sponsor NFSO concerts for all fifth grade students in Okaloosa and Walton Counties, support NFSO string musicians in performances in area fourth grade classrooms, host the orchestra in a free Memorial weekend Pops concert and more. The Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus, comprised of talented vocalists from across the region, performs with the orchestra twice a year.
For more information on the NFSO or the NFSO Guild or to purchase tickets, call the Mattie Kelly Arts Center box office at (850) 729-6000, or visit www.nfsymphony.org or www.mattiekellyartscenter.org.
Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus - Members of the local community participate in the Northwest Florida Symphony Chorus which performs classical selections twice per season with the Northwest Florida Symphony Orchestra at The Arts Center at Okaloosa-Walton College and at other events. The chorus is directed by Lois Van Dam who also teaches piano and voice at OWC. For more information, contact Van Dam at vandaml@owc.edu
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