Despite the pandemic preventing this year’s live concert, Dr. Will Kesling and the musicians prevailed in creating an amazing studio album instead. Produced by an award-winning team in UF’s Steinbrenner Band Hall, the masked University of Florida Symphony Orchestra, University of Florida Concert Choir and Gainesville Master Chorale recorded their parts in small, spaced out groups for the safety of all involved.
The musicians also traveled to recognizable locations around Gainesville for the filming, including UF’s University Auditorium, Celebration Pointe, Gainesville’s Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Tioga Town Center and North Florida Regional Medical Center’s duck pond. Where COVID-19 presented an obstacle, artists found a creative opportunity to spread holiday cheer.
The program, which was produced with WUFT Media Services in the College of Journalism and Communications, won the Gold AVA Digital Award
The program aired on Dec. 21 at 8 p.m., Dec. 22 at 10 p.m. and Dec. 24 at midnight on WUFT-TV.
This article was updated on June 6, 2021, to reflect the AVA award.
