00:00So Christmas is one of my favorite, absolute favorite times of the year.
00:04I love the Christmas music. I love the spirit. I love everything about it.
00:07And Southwest Florida is so blessed to have so many great artists in a growing arts community.
00:14And one of those is the Gulf Coast Symphony.
00:17And they've got a great show planned. It's called Deck the Halls.
00:20It is December 2nd. And Mark Sanders is going to be the special guest artist.
00:26And Mark is with me this morning. Hi, Mark.
00:29Thank you so much for taking some time to chat with us today.
00:33Good morning, Gina and everyone. It's an honor to be with you.
00:36Thank you so much for having me.
00:38So what exactly does guest artist mean in regards to this show?
00:42What are you going to be doing for us?
00:44Well, I get to sing.
00:46Yay!
00:47Yay!
00:47Yay!
00:50Yeah, guest artist is someone honored to be asked to be part of such an incredible group of people.
00:59And especially with the symphony.
01:01And I am honored each time Andrew asks, I will always be there.
01:06Awesome.
01:07Yeah.
01:08Well, so I want to tell everybody a little bit about you because I think you're kind of a big deal.
01:11Everyone's like, okay, guest artist, tell me a little more.
01:14I mean, you've done some Broadway touring companies.
01:16You're currently on tour doing a show called One Voice, which is all the music of Barry Manilow.
01:22I mean, so like you literally go all over the country.
01:26What is it about Southwest Florida that keeps you coming back here for 10 years in a row to perform at the symphony?
01:34Well, you know, I spent 15 years in New York City doing theater and I needed a break and I came to Fort Myers.
01:42It was supposed to be for a year or two.
01:44Then I met Betty Byerly of the Byerly Foundation Family Fund.
01:48And she introduced me to Andrew and the symphony.
01:53And I fell in love with them.
01:55I fell in love with Southwest Florida because the people are just so warm and loving.
02:02And I, you know, I didn't know anyone when I got here.
02:06And it was it was one of those things that I was able to find my voice and through different concerts, just singing.
02:16I used to sing karaoke.
02:17And that's kind of started it all.
02:19That was my that was my my only outlet for such a long time until I started meeting people.
02:26And then doors opened up and I just walked through.
02:29And, you know, the Gulf Coast Symphony has been so such a major part of me finding my voice and that and having the love that is given from not only from the orchestra themselves.
02:43They're so talented and and such a love for what they do.
02:47And the audiences here are incredible.
02:50So I am honored to always share the stage.
02:52When Andrew calls, I'm like, what do you need?
02:54What do you need?
02:54He always laughs.
02:55You know, he's like, I've got a funny request.
02:59I'm like, oh, gosh, what you got?
03:01I think a lot of people can relate to you in the fact that a lot of us came here.
03:04We're only going to stay a couple of years.
03:05It's like, yeah, there's something about this place.
03:07It just that just grabs a hold and makes us want to stay.
03:10I'm one of them.
03:11So what about this show are you looking forward to?
03:14Is there a particular song or an arrangement that you kind of want to tease us a little bit with?
03:19You know, there there's a medley called Christmas on Broadway.
03:22We're still looking at some of those surprises.
03:24So but I love being on the stage with them.
03:28You know, I'm kind of known for my my different jackets.
03:31So come just to find out what jacket I'm going to be wearing.
03:34Are any of them going to light up?
03:37No light ups.
03:38I get to help light it up themselves.
03:41But, yeah, there's a few that I've made myself that.
03:45Wow.
03:47Yeah.
03:47Some swapsy crystals in a jacket.
03:49You know, it's always always fun.
03:52That is.
03:53Maybe I can borrow one because I'm going to be on stage with you at some point where I think we're going to be on stage together.
03:58I'm going to be reading Twas the Night Before Christmas.
04:00So I guess I better start practicing that, too.
04:06Start looking at the word.
04:07Yeah.
04:08Let's go.
04:08Let's go.
04:09But you have the book, which I made, actually.
04:11So you'll be having.
04:13I made a few years ago.
04:14So, yeah.
04:16So it's exciting.
04:17You know, it's it's the Kellen Irish dancers.
04:20It's the symphonic master singers who are incredible.
04:23Such warmth and beautiful voices and just get you in the mood for the season.
04:27And, of course, sleigh ride and all those magical moments of Christmas.
04:31And I think there'll be some other surprises.
04:33I know they're doing a new show at the Mac.
04:38And, of course, Santa Claus.
04:40So so I love me some Santa Claus.
04:42He brings he brings the joy.
04:44He does.
04:45You can't have a Christmas show without Santa Claus.
04:47And again, that show.
04:48You cannot.
04:49It's called Deck the Halls.
04:51It's December 2nd and the Gulf Coast Symphony and Mark Sanders.
04:55Thank you so much for being with us.
04:57Look forward to seeing you at the concert.
04:58Thanks for giving us a little preview.
05:00It sounds like it's going to be an amazing show.
