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NFMAA recital kicks off busy holiday season

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The North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts Jazz Band performs under the direction of Christina Moffett during the Carols of Joy performance on Tuesday. CHUCK BALLARO
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Martina Wienert performs “Let it Snow” on the piano during the Carols of Joy performance at the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts on Tuesday. CHUCK BALLARO
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Kagan Vann makes the tuba look cool as he performs a solo during the Carols of Joy performance at the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts on Tuesday. CHUCK BALLARO
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Hannah David performs a flute solo during the Carols of Joy performance at the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts on Tuesday. CHUCK BALLARO

It was a night where musicians of all ages and ability got together for an evening of celebrating the holiday spirit.

Hundreds gathered at Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre at the North Fort Myers Academy for the Arts for the annual Carols of Joy concert, an event that kicks off a very busy holiday season for the school.

The event featured four bands, all under the direction of Christina Moffett, as well as dozens of keyboard performers of all levels and abilities.

“I think things went great, for kids this age to get up on stage and perform, they were very solid,” Moffett said. “Many of the soloists have only played for a little while, but it was great.”

Sara Barkhurst, vice president of the North Fort Myers Arts Foundation, said she is amazed every time the children take the stage.

“They’re all so talented. I’m amazed we don’t have anyone here above the eighth grade. Their abilities surpass anything in the elementary and middle school combined,” Barkhurst said. “There are students here who wouldn’t otherwise have the chance to take part in the arts.”

Barkhurst said nearly three-fourths of the students at the school would be unable to afford private lessons were it not for the publicly funded school.

Before the show, there was a lobby recital with roughly two dozen younger students who weren’t part of the stage performance. There was also competition with the science fair in the gym.

The concert kicked off with the school’s beginning band, which had only played together for three months. Later, the jazz band broke the Christmas theme with songs like “Night Train” and the James Bond theme, as well as the concert band and the wind ensemble, which featured some of the best musicians in Lee County.

Dr. Doug Santini, principal at NFMAA, said everyone shined.

“The advance band is real good and the beginner’s band is coming along. They’re catching up with the intermediate band,” Santini said.

Andrea Todd, whose daughter, Lilly, played trumpet in the wind ensemble and was named to the all-state band, said her daughter’s band is the best in the county.

Kim Howerton, a teacher at the school and mother to Kevin, another ensemble member, echoed those sentiments.

“It was fabulous. Ms. Moffett is a wonderful director and everyone says what a great teacher she is,” Howerton said. “That’s why I came here to teach.”

Moffett said that the talent has only gotten better in the decade that she’s been there.

“The longer you’re in this, the more you realize how to push the kids and get them to be more talented as they get older,” Moffett said. “We’re trying to show the parents what we’re doing and having a festive concert.”

In between, numerous keyboardists filled in with their short renditions of Christmas favorites. Among the best was Hayden Edison’s version of “Skating,” a song featured in “A Charlie Brown Christmas.”

It is just the beginning of a busy month for the school. On Dec. 12, the students will give their annual performance of “The Nutcracker” at the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall.

That will be followed by a Christmas production by the kindergartners and first-graders on Dec. 15 about Santa and Mrs. Claus.