Concert to provide low-cost holiday therapy

CARROLLWOOD — If music can draw people closer and create healing during troubled times, the Carrollwood Cultural Center may be on to something.

The center's artistic director, Mary Ann Scialdo, and arts education director Helen Michaelson decided in August that a community band and chorus would be a great project from an artistic and educational standpoint. They also viewed it as a way to lift people's spirits.

The Carrollwood Cultural Center Band and Chorus, which began practicing in mid September, will give their first public performance, a holiday concert, at 4 p.m. Saturday.

"Getting them together is a community activity, especially in this time, when people are a little depressed," Scialdo said. "This is the best shot in the arm. I tell my group it's less calories than a brownie, it's cheaper than a shrink and we have much more fun."

What has been so gratifying to Scialdo is how the two groups, which range in age from 14 to 92, have worked together and helped each other learn the music and instruments.

It's a varied group of about 80 people who may have played in the band or sung in high school, and others who just wanted to be part of an interesting community project, Scialdo said.

The concert will feature holiday favorites, with the chorus singing two pieces with the band.