Jan
30
7:00 PM
Beethoven’s Eroica and Rautavaara’s Cantus Arcticus
A Grand Symphony Christmas with Adult and Children’s Choruses
Saturday, December 05, 2026, 7:00 pm
Experience the wonder of the season with A Grand Symphony Christmas, a breathtaking celebration featuring the combined power of our Adult and Children’s Choruses. Formerly known as Holiday by the Bay, this event is a cornerstone of our season, especially following the magical inaugural chorus performance with our orchestra in December 2025, which left the audience in awe and brought the entire house to its feet. We are thrilled to bring these talented choruses back to the stage to harmonize with the symphony’s majestic sounds of the season, creating an atmosphere filled with joy and holiday spirit.
Please Note: This special event is not included in season subscriptions to ensure more seating is available for the families and guests of our choruses, so be sure to secure your tickets early! Sales open soon, with the official ticket link coming soon.
Artistic Leadership & Guest Artists
- Nathaniel Efthimiou (Conductor): Award-winning conductor Nathaniel Efthimiou, currently the Associate Conductor of the Jacksonville Symphony and a four-time recipient of the prestigious Solti Foundation U.S. Career Assistance Award, will conduct A Grand Symphony Christmas. Recently named a Young Conductor Fellow at the Salzburg Festival by members of the Vienna Philharmonic, Nathaniel brings a multifaceted background as a conductor, composer, pianist, and violinist to this vibrant holiday performance.
- Christina Burroughs (Director, PCS Adult Chorus): A versatile lyric soprano who has performed leading roles like Mimi in La Bohème and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte across the U.S., Christina brings over two decades of professional stage experience and a Master’s from the San Francisco Conservatory. Christina will also return to coach the PCS adult chorus to sing in German for the April performance of “Ode to Joy.”
- The Bay Area Choral Society & Dana Langford (Guest Chorus): Founded in 1989, the Bay Area Choral Society (BACS) is a community chorus that has enriched the Forgotten Coast with beautifully crafted choral concerts, performing two concerts each season in Port St. Joe and Apalachicola. Under the direction of Dana Langford since 2016, the group sang Carnegie Hall in December 2024. BACS returns for the 2nd year to sing with Panama City Symphony.
- Kenny Kirkland (Director, PCS Children’s Chorus): For over 35 years, Kenny Kirkland has shaped generations of young musicians in Bay District Schools. A former District Teacher of the Year, he has served as Guest Conductor for the Bay District Music Festival and Past President of the Bay County Elementary Music Council. Under his direction, the Patronis Elementary Chorus earned numerous national first-place awards, cementing his legacy of transforming student lives through music. Kenny returns for the 2nd year to conduct the PCS children’s chorus.
