Angelic voices ring throughout All Angels for Christmas concert

By Dana Kampa
| 10:15 a.m. December 8, 2025

Violinist and pianist Donna Smith performs with singer Johanna Davis at a special Christmas concert for attendees at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church on Dec. 6.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Nothing brings people together around the holidays quite like music, and community members at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church started off their celebration of the holidays with a Christmas concert and tea on Dec. 6.

The afternoon's performance featured soprano Johanna Davis accompanied by pianist and violinist Donna Smith.

Graham Toft circulates with extra servings of finger foods at the tea time following a Christmas concert Dec. 6 at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church.

Smith, founder of the Venice Symphony Youth Orchestra, has been an instrumentalist playing in the southwestern Florida area for the past 25 years. She is the former principal second violinist and second violinist for the Venice Symphony and former Punta Gorda Symphony, and she works with multiple organizations, including as music director of Trinity Presbyterian Church in Venice.

Davis has sung with the Sarasota Youth Opera and Venice Little Theater and danced with the Florida Ballet Arts Company and The Sarasota Ballet. She performs as part of The Qol Quartet and the Siren Song of Sarasota, among other groups.

Nancy Scanlon, Zerbe Sodervick and JC Wayne give a cheers at All Angels by the Sea Episcopal Church during a tea social after the Dec. 6 Christmas concert.

The afternoon's setlist included "The Wexford Carol," "In the Bleak Midwinter," "I Wonder as I Wander," "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas," "Walking in the Air," and "O Holy Night," along with several others.

"Walking in the Air," the theme of the 1982 movie "The Snowman," holds a special place in Davis' heart considering her mother specially orchestrated the song for her to sing with a symphony.

"It's one of my mother's favorite animated films of all time," she told attendees. "I wanted to share it with you today because it is so beautiful."

Following the performance, listeners met for tea and finger sandwiches in the community hall.

author

Dana Kampa

Dana Kampa is the Longboat Key neighbors reporter for the Observer. She first ventured into journalism in her home state of Wisconsin, going on to report community stories everywhere from the snowy mountains of Washington State to the sunny shores of the Caribbean. She has been a writer and photographer for more than a decade, covering what matters most to readers.