Celebrating Leap Year in Naples – ENJOY ONE MORE DAY

Claudia Polzin
Independent Consultant

Leap Year – 2020 – we get to enjoy one more day in this gorgeous part of the country. Even though it is still the shortest month of the year there is no shortage of exciting events in our community.

Begin with the long list of concerts in Cambier Park – in the center of Naples – you can enjoy local bands in the afternoon or the evening. These groups feature the music of Big Bands and the all-American creation of jazz. Begin with your adventure on February 2 at 2 p.m with the Naples Dixieland Jazz Band; on February 9 enjoy the oldest of the Naples Bands – the Naples Concert Band.

This group is celebrating its 48th season with afternoon concerts in Cambier Park. By the standard of 48 years – one of the younger groups – Gulf Coast Big Band began in 1991- only a mere 29 years old. They will round out the afternoon concerts February 16 at 2 p.m.

If you prefer an early evening concert in the park – February 10 at 7 p.m. the Naples Big Band will feature a concert under the stars. Stardust Memories Big Band – will feature the music of Benny Goodman and Artie Shaw – two of the great creators of the music that we love from the Big Band era. A new addition to the performances in Cambier Park is the Recreation Tappers – this is an organization of 120 recreational tap dancers – very new to our area. Formed in 2003 by an individual that moved here and could not find an adult program for tap dancers – just fun for the performers and the audience.

Just a note – all of the concerts in Cambier Park are free – you only have to bring a chair. In addition in our community there
are many of our local churches that offer concerts of very high quality that are free. So the arts in our community are open to all – explore the offerings at all of the churches with concert series and   be ready to be surprised by what you can find – two examples –February 2 at 4 p.m. at Vanderbilt Presbyterian – J.T. Posadas viola and Dr Eunmi Ko piano. February 23 at First Presbyterian Church in Naples – 4 p.m. – the FGCU Chamber Choir will perform.

You probably know that the Norris Center is the home of Gulfshore Playhouse – but did you also know that they have a full
concert series and film series – February 3 will be another of their Classic Film nights featuring the movie Vertigo. February 8
at 7 p.m. – the man dubbed the Crown Prince of Cabaret – Steve Ross – he earned this title by becoming a fixture of the
Manhattan Cabaret Community.

If you have been looking and wondering if you can find Shakespeare in our area – the answer is yes in this month of
February – February 15 – As You Like It – Shakespeare on the Plaza will open on the Naples Plaza. This is an annual project of the Shakespeare organization in our area – the plays are free to the public and an opportunity for you to enjoy the works of the greatest playwright – Shakespeare.

If you love outstanding quality choral music – you will want to get to Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church on February 23 to hear
Seraphic Fire – performing Handel – Acis and Galatea at 4 p.m. This work is by far Handel’s most popular dramatic work and his only stage work; considered by many to be the greatest pastoral opera ever composed.

Plan to enjoy the last day of February in this leap year – at the Music Foundation of Greater Naples concert featuring their  scholarship winners. This organization has been providing scholarships to student musicians for many decades and the
concert always provides you with joy at the accomplishments of our young musicians. So enjoy this look at our wonderful young  people on February 29 at 11 a.m. in Bower Chapel in Moorings Park.