South Florida Symphony Orchestra to Premiere Joachim’s “Had to Be” in Black History Month Concerts

The South Florida Symphony Orchestra (SFSO) will celebrate Black History Month with performances of contemporary works alongside classical favorites, featuring the Florida premiere of “Had to Be” by Grammy-nominated Haitian-American composer Nathalie Joachim. Cellist Seth Parker Woods will perform Joachim’s concerto, which explores themes of memory, identity and African diasporic influences.

Contemporary Works and Classical Repertoire

The program includes the SFSO premiere of “Four Black American Dances” by Grammy-nominated composer Carlos Simon. These performances will be paired with Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Symphony No. 35 “Haffner” and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Capriccio espagnol.”

Performance Dates and Locations

The South Florida Symphony Orchestra will present these concerts at the following locations:

• Miami Beach: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, at New World Center [https://southfloridasymphony.org/]
• Fort Lauderdale: Wednesday, February 18, 2026, at The Parker [https://parkerplayhouse.com/events/detail/sfso2526-rimsky-mozart]
• Key West: Saturday, February 21, 2026, at Tennessee Williams Theatre [https://southfloridasymphony.org/]

Pre-Concert Conversation

Dr. Alan Mason will host a pre-concert talk 30 minutes before each performance, offering insights into the works and composers.

Ticket Information

Tickets can be purchased:

• Online: https://southfloridasymphony.org or https://parkerplayhouse.com
• By phone: (954) 462-0222, press 1
• In person: Broward Center’s AutoNation Box Office

About the Composers and Performers

Nathalie Joachim is a Grammy-nominated Haitian-American composer whose work, “Had to Be,” explores themes of memory and identity. [https://haitiantimes.com/event/black-history-month-concert-featuring-nathalie-joachim-in-miami-beach/]

Seth Parker Woods is an acclaimed cellist performing Joachim’s concerto. [https://haitiantimes.com/event/black-history-month-concert-featuring-nathalie-joachim-in-miami-beach/]

Carlos Simon is a Grammy-nominated composer whose “Four Black American Dances” highlights the breadth of Black American cultural expression. [https://southfloridasymphony.org/masterworks-3/]