Nothing says “Christmas” quite like the music we remember from Christmases past and delight in hearing — and singing — again every season. Crestview’s community chorus and band have respective programs in store featuring beloved favorites and some wonderful tunes that might be perhaps a little less familiar.
The Crestview Community Chorus begins with their annual concert, this year titled “The Most Wonderful Season,” at 7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2 and 3 p.m. Dec. 4 at Warriors Hall. The concert is free; donations toward the purchase of sheet music are gratefully received.
(The chorus will also lead community caroling starting at 4:45 Saturday, Dec. 3, before the lighting of the city’s Christmas tree at Courthouse Square on north Main Street.)
Selections include a Holiday Film Festival, featuring music from Christmas movies, and Three Songs for Christmas, which features “Jubilate Deo,” “Candlelight Carol,” and “Adoration of the Magi.” The beautiful latter selection was composed by renowned film composer Miklós Rózsa for William Wyler’s 1959 epic spectacular, “Ben Hur” and reverently underscored the arrival of the Wisemen at Jesus’s humble birthplace.
Traditional favorites on the program include “Do You Hear What I Hear,” “I Saw Three Ships,” “Winter Wonderland,” and “The Most Wonderful Time of the Year.”
This year, the North Okaloosa Community Band shares the stage with bands from around the Panhandle for “A Christmas Band Concert.” The Dec. 12 Community Center spectacular also features the Pensacola Bay Concert Band, the Emerald Coast Community Band and the Walton County Community Band.
Directors are Stuart Campbell, Jeannine Cochran and Kim Whaley, with former Crestview Mayor David Cadle, who directed the Crestview High School Big Red Machine for almost 30 years, as guest conductor on “Thematic Variations on Dona Nobis Pacem.”
While each band will perform several numbers respectively, the evening’s grand finale will feature all four bands — almost 200 performers — playing Leroy Anderson’s famous “Sleigh Ride,” the rousing traditional favorite made famous by Arthur Fiedler and the Boston Pops in 1949. It will be conducted by the North Okaloosa band’s co-director Stuart Campbell.
North Okaloosa Community Band librarian Jeannine Cochran joked about the challenge of coordinating four different bands for the number, saying, “We are either brave, confident or insane.”
Admission is free to the bands’ concert, though a nonperishable food donation for community food banks is encouraged.
In addition to these community performing arts groups, be sure to check with area high school and middle school band and chorus concerts to round out your Christmas music presentations!
CRESTVIEW CHRISTMAS CONCERTS
- Crestview Community Chorus “The Most Wonderful Season” concert
7 p.m. Dec. 1 and 2; 3 p.m. Dec. 4; free; donations welcome
Warriors Hall, Whitehurst Municipal Building, 201 Stillwell Blvd.
- North Okaloosa Community Band “A Christmas Band Concert”
With Pensacola Bay Concert Band, Emerald Coast Community Band and Walton County Community Band
7 p.m. Dec. 12; free; nonperishable food donations welcome
Crestview Community Center, 1446 Commerce Dr. (behind the post office)
Original source can be found here.
