Music To Lift Your Spirits

by Claudia Polzin
Director of Development – Southwest Florida
Classical South Florida – 88.7

Do you remember December “up north”? I do – and it was cold, cloudy, and snowy. Compare it to December in Naples – never need to put on boots , unless they are a fashion statement; never need to scrape the ice off the car and never hire the snow plow to keep your driveway cleared out!

Add to that the most fabulous season of opportunities for concerts and events – December is full of variety. I remember when we first moved here and the family came here for Christmas, and we decided to revive an old tradition – Christmas caroling. Very quickly we added several to our group of carolers and found many new friends. Maybe this is your year to try that – start a new tradition in your neighborhood.

If starting a new tradition is not for you – there are many opportunities that will get you out of that easy chair and into our beautiful community. If you did not find the Naples Concert Band in November – join them on December 1 at 2 p.m. in Cambier Park to start the holiday season – they will be featuring holiday music from around the world and American classics – like White Christmas. (They probably won’t mind if you want to sing along, quietly!)

Two plays await you during the month of December – Gulfshore Playhouse, performing at the Norris Center puts a new spin on a classic tale – Jacob Marley’s Christmas Tale. You can catch this tale from December 6-22. But if a Christmas tale is not to your liking – don’t miss the Naples Players’ production of Our Town through December 21 at the Sugden Theatre.

But we are just getting started in keeping you busy during December. From December 6 through 9 you can choose from jazz, classical piano, traditional Holiday concerts and the world premier of a concerto. One of these four days will certainly provide you with a smile and the thrill of a live performance. If you are like me, though, you will be on the go all of these days not wanting to miss anything. So join me on December 6 at 7 p.m. at the Edison Campus in Collier County and listen to the amazing talent of Priscilla Navara, a student at FGCU’s Bower School of Music and winner of the Steinway Piano Society Young Artists award.

December 8 provides us all with some major decisions – at 2 p.m. we can be at Edison Campus in Collier listening to the jazz sounds of Danny Sinoff; and then head to one of three traditional Christmas Concerts. Any one of these concerts will be a thrill and unfortunately we will have to choose as they are all at 4 p.m. on December 8 – beginning downtown – First Presbyterian Church will have their annual Christmas Concert. Moving a little further north the beautiful Bower Chapel on the campus of Moorings Park will have Trinity-by-the-Cove choir performing their Christmas concert.

Further north you can join me at Vanderbilt Presbyterian Church (I say join me – as I will be one of the singers in the choir) – enjoy over a 100 voices, timpani, brass and holiday music to thrill the soul.

End these four days with a true American jazz legend – Dick Hyman – he will be performing with Classic Chamber Concerts at 8 p.m on December 9 – and the piece he will be performing is his composition of a Ragtime Concerto for Clarinet and Chamber Orchestra.

Before you head north for holidays with family or they come here – December 14 and 15 will keep you in the spirit with the Naples Brass Ensemble at the Violin Shop in Naples on December 15 at 3; and the Naples Orchestra Chorus on the 14th and 15th – at Lely High School – their concerts will feature Baroque trumpets.

Don’t forget as you move around Naples and head to all of the performances – you have your own personal concert hall with no walls – and you can find it at 88.7FM in the comfort of your home or your car.