Big band means big tunes at St. Mary Christmas concert

By Dana Kampa
| 11:30 a.m. December 13, 2025

David Forester sings a solo of "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" with The Venice Symphony for a big band-style Christmas concert on Dec. 12 at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.

Longboat Key
Neighbors

"The Little Drummer Boy" was a perfectly suited song for the Dec. 12 Christmas concert at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church. The Venice Symphony's percussionists sent their booming notes into the rafters of the church hall with every chorus of "pa rum pum pum pum," earning an extra round of applause from the packed audience.

St. Mary contributed to Longboat Key's holiday festivities with a performance by symphony members that centered on the big band sound of the 1950s.

Ranging from Ella Fitzgerald to Elvis Presley, the band brought the songs of many artists of the decade to life. The setlist included "Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree," "Walking in a Winter Wonderland, "O Come Let Us Adore Him" and many other classics.

And, as pianist Greg Murray put it by way of introduction, "What would the season be without Andy Williams?"

The band proceeded to bring the house down with "It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year."

The pews were filled at the Dec. 12 Christmas concert at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.

Trombonist Joe Offner brings the heat with the brass section from The Venice Symphony at the Christmas concert.

Concert attendees enthusiastically applauded tunes like Michael Bublé's version of "It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas."

Soprano Serenna Jones sings a "Jingle Bells" solo with members of The Venice Symphony.

Pianist Greg Murray leads members of The Venice Symphony performing a Christmas concert at St. Mary, Star of the Sea, Catholic Church.

Vocalists, brass players, percussionists and fellow musicians from The Venice Symphony joined in bringing Christmas tunes to Longboat Key.

Concert attendees filled three tables with their toy contributions to be given to children of the diocese.

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.