Claudia Polzin enlightens us on the Florida Holiday Season

Claudia Polzin
Consultant to Nonprofits

At this point, as you pick up this magazine, we have all survived Thanksgiving and hopefully not driving ourselves crazy over Christmas preparations. It is very strange that the many who choose to retire to Florida for a more peaceful and relaxed life –manage to get our schedules more cluttered than when we were working fulltime, raising a family, etc.

One way we fill up our time is with Galas and Charitable events – all of them wonderful causes that we want to support – but an example of the schedule potential – is that from December 1 through December 17 – there are no less than 33 potential events you can choose to attend; on December 1 there are five different opportunities. This is affectionately what we call “season” – which is a challenge for many reasons but very challenging on our schedule.

So I want to suggest that during December you find time to enjoy the beautiful music of the season. Now I do have to
say that because all of the commercial establishments want us to start celebrating the Christmas season in September – by
the time we should be able to enjoy this beautiful music we are, in many instances, very tired of the carols and music that is
supposed to be uplifting. But – December is the time to find those concerts that will feed your soul – from classical to jazz – light shows and boat parades. The best known work of Handel is his Messiah – hear it as it was meant to be heard on December 2 at 7 p.m. – First Presbyterian Church – the 100 voice Artis-Naples Chorus with the Naples Philharmonic Orchestra.

After December 2 – through December 17 –there are over 25 concerts you can choose to attend just in the Naples area – so selecting your favorite musical genre is important. The Naples Concert Band will be in Cambier Park on December 3 at 2 p.m.– BUT their big concert for December will be on December 14 at the Sugden Plaza on 5th at 6:30 p.m. – the 22nd Annual Tuba Christmas. Some fun Tuba facts – it was invented in 1835; it is the largest and lowest of the brass instruments. Related instruments to the Tuba: subcontrabass tuba, euphonium, contrabass bugle, baritone horn, sax horn, wagner tuba and helicon. It is unusual to hear an entire concert played by a tuba band – if you have not experienced it for the past 21 years – this is the year to hear this incredible group.

If you love Big Bands – you can hear Big Band music on December 10 with the Gulf Coast Big Band at 2 p.m. in Cambier
Park or on December 11 at 7 p.m. with the Naples Big Band also in Cambier Park. Jazz is alive and well in December – The Naples Jazzmasters will be performing on December 16 at 2 p.m. in the River Park Community Center and again on December 17 at Cambier Park at 2 p.m.

If your choice is choral music at the Holidays – we have a very special treat for you – Grammy nominated Seraphic Fire will begin their 2017-18 concert series with their beloved Christmas concert on December 14 at 7 p.m. at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church. This group is chorale music taken to a wonderful new level – featuring extraordinary artists from around the country – that come together to create music that you don’t want to miss. In addition, many of the local churches have Christmas concerts that are very uplifting – two on the same day at First Presbyterian and Vanderbilt Presbyterian – December 10 both at 4 p.m. – so you can choose the south end of town or the north end of town.

I sincerely hope that you will find a way to enjoy the Holidays and find your favorite music to make the holidays sing for you.