St. Mary sings to the holidays

The Women's Guild and Men's Club hosted the annual Christmas Concert on Dec. 1.

  • By Katie Johns
  • | 3:21 p.m. December 1, 2017
  • Longboat Key
  • Neighbors
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Michelle Giglio brought the spirit of the Christmas season Dec. 1 to St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.

The opera singer’s voice wafted through the walls of the church’s fellowship hall during the annual Christmas Concert. Giglio, along with Lee Dougherty Ross, artistic director of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, performed an hour-long concert for church members.

Giglio performed classics such as “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas” and “The Christmas Song” while the crowd sang along. During “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” the crowd was split into groups and each was assigned one of the 12 days to sing along to. 

Following the concert, those in attendance enjoyed a cocktail reception complete with cookies made by “Cookie Lady” Maryann Mazzaferro.


 

Monsignor Gerry Finegan and Maryann Mazzaferro with the cookies she made for him.
Monsignor Gerry Finegan and Maryann Mazzaferro with the cookies she made for him.
Opera singer Michelle Giglio performs while the crowd sings along.
Opera singer Michelle Giglio performs while the crowd sings along.
Admission to the concert was an unwrapped toy for Catholic Charities.
Admission to the concert was an unwrapped toy for Catholic Charities.
Mary Ellen Criste and Jane Bagot
Mary Ellen Criste and Jane Bagot
Opera singer Michelle Giglio performs while the crowd sings along.
Opera singer Michelle Giglio performs while the crowd sings along.
Lee Dougherty Ross, artistic director of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, and opera singer Michelle Giglio laugh with the crowd.
Lee Dougherty Ross, artistic director of Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota, and opera singer Michelle Giglio laugh with the crowd.
Deirdre Schueppert and Carole McMahon
Deirdre Schueppert and Carole McMahon
Emil and Luise Widitz
Emil and Luise Widitz
Opera singer Michelle Giglio performs while the crowd sings along.
Opera singer Michelle Giglio performs while the crowd sings along.
The crowd had assigned parts when singing along to “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”
The crowd had assigned parts when singing along to “The Twelve Days of Christmas.”

 

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