4:00 p.m., Sunday, December 13 within Overtown’s Historic St. Agnes’ Episcopal Church (1750 NW 3rd Avenue), the holiday season was ushered in with what has become an annual and spirit-filled holiday concert spectacular. Amidst a mix of Neo-Classical- and Mission-style elements, the home of one of Miami’s oldest African-American congregations was the location to an event that drew upwards of 1,800.

This annual FREE concert was presented by the award-winning Coral Gables Congregational Church (CGCC) Community Arts Program (CAP) Conservatory for the Arts’ and its Young Musicians’ Junior Orchestra led by Ross DeBardelaben, Advanced Orchestra conducted by Jamie Nix, Advanced Chamber Players led by Ashley Liberty and the ALL-STAR Jazz Ensemble conducted by Daniel Strange. Other members of the Community Arts Program’s teaching and coaching faculty joined, with organist Matthew Steynor, to round out a spirited holiday program of classical and jazz styles that had toes tapping, spirits soaring, and St. Agnes’ pipe organ (and everyone) singing!

Concert goers heard music of Bach, Holst, Bartok, Mozart, Ignaz Lachner and more against a rousing version of Tchaikovsky’s Trepak from Nutcracker and Schumann’s Fairy Tales for piano and strings and exciting pieces for St. Agnes’ grand pipe organ! PLUS, there were stellar arrangements of Santa Baby, After You’ve Gone, and Nasty Blues for jazz ensemble, AND new arrangements for jazz ensemble and string orchestra of such classics as Angels We Have Heard on High, The Christmas Song, and Three Ships. Oh, then there was a surprising arrangement of We Wish You a Varied Christmas that took listeners on a musical romp, from classical to rock, and knocked stockings off (in good ol’ fun holiday fashion, of course)! It was a perfect family event that concluded with a Holiday Medley and grand sing along that ushered in the most awesome holiday season of the year, in the heart of one of Miami’s most endearing regions.

The mission of the Coral Gables Congregational Church Community Arts Program is to serve a diverse community with the transforming power of the arts through educational and culturally enriching experiences. The Coral Gables Congregational Church (CGCC) Community Arts Program Conservatory for the Arts provides affordable one-on-one instrument training, written and aural music theory education, performance forums, juried evaluations, and participation in active-learning ensembles for a diversity of all Miami-Dade County youth (ages 8 thru 18).

The 2009 Overtown Holiday Spectacular was made possible with the support of the following sponsors: The Historic St. Agnes’ Episcopal Church; The Links, Incorporated, Greater Miami Chapter; WLRN Public Radio; WDNA 88.9FM; The Children’s Trust, NFAA YoungArts, the Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs, the Cultural Affairs Council, the Miami-Dade County Mayor and Board of County Commissioners; and Coral Gables Congregational Church.

For more information about the CGCC Community Arts Program, call (305) 448-7421, ext. 120.