'Choirpalooza' unites 100-plus community members in song

By Dana Kampa
| 5:15 p.m. February 15, 2026

About 130 Longboaters turned out to join "Choirpalooza" at the Feb. 15 service at Christ Church of Longboat Key to sing "The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune."

Longboat Key
Neighbors

Christ Church of Longboat Key Rev. Julia Piermont reassured participants in "Choirpalooza" that the musical event wasn't "American Idol." Rather, it was a unique opportunity for community members to share in a large-scale show of unity on Longboat Key.

Choir members led the public in singing "The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune" at the Feb. 15 service.

Piermont said they aimed to bring together at least 100 people to join in the song, and with the two dozen regular choir members, they reached approximately 130 participants.

The reverend explained how organizers got the idea of the musical event in the spirit of making joyful noise, an excerpt from Psalm 100.

"It is argued in more than one place that this song is the best-known Christian song worldwide," she said.

Led by Director of Music Robert Romanski, members of the community choir raised their sheet music, exchanged some trepidatious yet excited smiles, and began to sing.

The tune is attributed to composer Louis Bourgeois from the 1500s. Attendees sang the arrangement by Ralph Vaughan Williams, the version sung at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.

Piermont said she was overjoyed with how the performance turned out.

"I kept talking about joyful noise, but it was really beautiful music, especially with the trumpet," she said.

Participants Jan and Bob Van Iten said afterward that they were proud to get past their nerves at singing publicly and join in the fun, especially when they could get lost in the harmony of having so many voices singing together.

Community members joined the Christ Church of Longboat Key choir on stage for "Choirpalooza" on Feb. 15.

Christ Church of Longboat Key Rev. Julia Piermont invites community members up to the stage for Choirpalooza.

In addition to leading the 100 community members who joined in singing "The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune," the regular Christ Church choir sang several hymns at the Feb. 15 service.

Christ Church's Choirpalooza featured instrumentalists John Castleman and Brad Turner on the trumpet and Chris Westfall on the church organ.

Choirpalooza participants exchanged smiles before launching into song.

At the urging of Christ Church of Longboat Key Rev. Julia Piermont, members of the public filed up to the stage to help sing a tune.

Director of Music Robert Romanski offers direction as singers find their spots on stage.

With a wave of the arms, Director of Music Robert Romanski sets the 130-member choir in motion.

Choir members did as bidden by Rev. Julia Piermont and "made joyful noise" with their rendition of "The Old Hundredth Psalm Tune."

Bob Van Iten, joined by his wife Jan, said his singing is normally confined to the occasional country tune sung at home. But the pair was happy to join in the 130-member public choir for Choirpalooza.

Community members applaud after successfully bringing together more than 100 people to sing with the Christ Church choir.

Members of the typical Christ Church choir close out the service with hymns, including "God Be with You 'Til We Meet Again."

Christ Church of Longboat Key Rev. Julia Piermont talks about the evolving role of music in spreading religious messages.

The Christ Church of Longboat Key choir closes out the Feb. 15 service.

Community members Jan and Bob Van Iten said, in the end, they were glad they found the confidence to join the Choirpalooza group.

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.