A Brief History

In 1999, a group of concerned Amelia Island Residents recognized a need to enhance music education in the Nassau County Schools. With the help of dedicated volunteers, they solicited musical instrument donations from the community in order to launch the Instrument Zoo. For over 20 years, volunteers took these instruments into every 4th grade serving about 850 students every year. The students had the opportunity to play instruments from all 4 musical groups. This continued into January 2020 when they went into 44 classrooms. However, with the onset of the pandemic, the program in this form was no longer viable. In the spring of 2023, a new revised demonstration format of Instrument Zoo was launched for 4th and 5th graders.

In order to solicit funds to support the Instrument Zoo and more, the group decided to form a 501c3 charitable organization. So, in 2003 the group became incorporated as ARIAS, Amelia Residents In Action for the Symphony, an affiliate of the Jacksonville Symphony. ARIAS has a threefold mission: to increase exposure of the Jacksonville Symphony in Nassau County; to encourage attendance at Jacksonville Symphony Concerts in Jacoby Hall; and to enhance Music Education in Nassau County Schools. Over the years, ARIAS sponsored Jacksonville Symphony concerts on Amelia Island, initially as large Gala Dinners at the Ritz and Plantation with the full orchestra. This evolved into the very popular, “Let Freedom Ring” program, with the support of community donations. In conjunction with the Symphony, shuttle buses from the Harris Teeter parking lot were provided for many years to select evening concerts each year at Jacoby Symphony Hall to enable those who don’t want to drive after dark. For music education, not only did ARIAS provide the Instrument Zoo but also facilitated Jacksonville Symphony ensemble performances in the Nassau County Schools.

Post-pandemic, ARIAS has sponsored Jacksonville Symphony Ensemble performances twice a year on Amelia Island, continues to provide buses to select evening symphony performances at Jacoby Symphony Hall in Jacksonville, and is committed to enhancing the lives of Nassau County students with the Instrument Zoo and ensemble performances in the schools.