Culture worthy of your calendar

Artist of Enduring Excellence

Winter Park may take pride in being the home of Barbara Sorensen, a renowned sculptor known for large-scale forms in clay and bronze. The three goddesses outside the Lowndes Shakespeare Center are the work of Sorensen, whose travels to rugged settings, in which she sees the vast landscape as an allegory for life. On Friday, Dec. 10 from 6- 8 p.m., the Museum of Florida Art in Deland will open an exhibit of Sorensen’s work called Topographies. Sorensen is this year’s recipient of The Florida Artist of Enduring Excellence award, an honor and exhibit recognizing the artistic contribution Sorensen has made to the cultural landscape of the state and the nation. The exhibit may be seen through March 13 at the Museum of Florida Art at 600 N. Woodland Blvd. in Deland. Visit www.MuseumofFloridaArt.org or call 386-734-4371.

Holiday Boat Parade

One of the great things about living in Florida is that our holiday boat parades also get to feature a water ski show. Our temperatures may have cooled, but our lakes are not frozen and are ready to provide fun, family entertainment on Saturday, Dec. 11 when the 7th Annual Winter Park Holiday Boat Parade takes place on Lakes Virginia and Osceola. The schedule begins at 3:30 p.m. with a one-hour ski show on Lake Virginia with viewing on the Rollins College campus. Then at 5 p.m., festivities move across the street to the Albin Polasek Museum, where live music will be provided by The Coons Brothers and the 12-piece band The Escorts, leading up to the Polasek Museum hosting the official judging stand for the Boat Parade at 6:30 p.m. Admission to the Polasek Gardens is free with limited on-site parking for $5. The Boat Parade begins on the east shore of Lake Virginia proceeding clockwise around the lake, through the Palm Canal to Lake Osceola. Your whole family will enjoy the parade of holiday-themed and inventively lighted boats along the lakes’ shorelines. Information is available by contacting [email protected] or calling 407-647-6294.

Maitland Symphony’s free holiday concert

“Dance, Love, Be Merry” is the title of the free holiday concert to be presented by the ever-growing Maitland Symphony Orchestra on Sunday, Dec. 12 at 7:30 p.m. at the First Presbyterian Church of Maitland. The program is an around-the-world musical trip including music from Russia, Ireland and Germany, holiday favorites and a medley of traditional Hanukkah songs. Conducted by Maitland’s own Margaret Patten, the concert is a gift for all ages including the special delights of “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, Bugler’s “Holiday” and “Sleigh Ride”, and featuring the virtuosity of The Orlando Brass. Even the dress rehearsal (on Saturday, Dec.11 at 10 a.m.) is open for adults unable to attend Sunday evening. For information, call 407-325-4941 or visit www.PAMaitland.org

Handel’s ‘Messiah’

The most beautiful — and memorable — music of the holiday season is Handel’s unequaled masterpiece, “Messiah”. That much-anticipated work will be performed by The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra on Monday, Dec. 13 at 7 p.m., when Maestro Christopher Wilkins leads the Philharmonic in this monument of choral literature. Joining the Philharmonic is the First United Methodist Church of Orlando Choir. Maestro Wilkins comments, “Handel’s ‘Messiah’ was popular from its very first performance and was presented during Lent rather than at Christmastime. Today it inspires people of all faiths with its stirring choruses and sublime arias, and without any doubt, the ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ remains one of the most thrilling passages in all of music.” The performance will take place in the intimate setting of the Shakespeare Center at 812 E. Rollins St. at Loch Haven Park in Orlando. Visit www.OrlandoPhil.org or phone 407-770-0071.