Panama City Music Association touts season of opera, brass, Christmas favorites

PANAMA CITY — The Panama City Music Association is planning a full season of four shows this winter, and is seeking new members to help make the season a success.

"We've been going through hard times these last few years, and we don't know how much longer this will last," said Nancy Moore, a spokeswoman for the PCMA. "In the past, we had a big push for membership. ... This year, we just want those seats filled."

From 2019:PCMA season memberships available

From 2020:PCMA presents the Russian State Symphony

Season tickets go on sale Nov. 1. Advance tickets for individual shows will go on sale sometime later. Go to PCMusicAssociation.com to reserve tickets or for more information.

The 2020-21 season was canceled because of COVID-19 concerns. Acts weren't touring, Moore said.

The season will open Dec. 1 with "Christmas Joy," featuring Tim Zimmerman and The King's Brass at 7:30 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Panama City. This community event to usher in the holidays will include a community choir and brass band featuring local singers and players. The presentation will include Christmas carols, patriotic marches, classic hymns and jazz spirituals.

"We're reaching out to high school bands and choirs," Moore said. PCMA members will have reserve seating, and the public can purchase tickets for $10 while seats last.

The season continues on Jan. 22, 2022, with The Jersey Tenors performing at 7:30 p.m. at Gretchen Nelson Scott Performing Arts Center at Mosley High School. The tenors were booked last year, before the season was canceled. The group mashes up rock and opera, blending classics from Figaro to Frank Sinatra and Frankie Valli.

"They're going to be real popular, for sure," Moore said. "They're really versatile."

On Feb. 12, 2022, join "A Celebration of Song from Opera to Broadway" at the Scott Arts Center at Mosley, presented by members of Teatro Lirico D'Europa, an international opera company, performing some of the most famous vocal music ever written. The show begins at 4:30 p.m.

"The company used to do full-scale operas at the Marina Civic Center," Moore said. "They will do famous arias and familiar Broadway tunes from 'Cats' and Rodgers & Hammerstein to Andrew Lloyd Webber and Sondheim."

The season will come to a grand finale with "Siberian Virtuosi" at 7:30 p.m. on March 25, 2022, at First United Methodist Church in Panama City. The state ensemble of the Republic of Sakha includes 10 violinists and a pianist. Known for its energy and unique arrangements, the group is led by Prof. Larisa Gabisheva and Prof. Stanislav Afanasenko.

"We had planned for them to perform for us at the Marina Civic Center in 2018," Moore said, indicating Hurricane Michael had other plans. "They are 10 women violinists, and they're only available in March, but the Mosley center was booked so we moved to the Methodist church."

PCMA memberships run from $50 for students and $100 for adults to $150 (patrons), $200 (silver), $250 (gold) and $500 (platinum). The top levels include reserved seating and mention in the program; they also help to cover costs of talent offerings for the upcoming season.

Panama City Music Association is a volunteer organization operating as a not-for-profit 501(c)3 organization. Since 1941, PCMA has presented a monumental number of concerts featuring the top soloists, ensembles, symphonies, operas, Broadway musicals, dancers and more.

PCMA presented concerts in the Bay High School auditorium long before the Marina Civic Center was built. With the Civic Center now in ruins, PCMA continues to bring shows to town, once again utilizing school and church auditoriums.