Christmas concert

We may start decorating for Christmas and begin having get-togethers and parties and recitals and concerts after Thanksgiving....but it's just not Christmas for me until I've been to Jon Schmidt's annual Christmas concert. This year was his best by far...what a night! The concert was supposed to go from 7-9 pm but it went until 10 and it was still too short. Jon's music is hard to describe, he's a prodigy. I've never heard anyone play like him and he makes it look so easy...Jon is also pretty funny, there are plenty of laughs through the evening. If you remember Victor Borge, he's the closest thing I can think of...but while I'm sure Jon can play classical music, too, his style is really unique and all his own. Teens love his piano music, if that helps you understand. His guest this evening was a cellist who played several songs with him...it was breathtaking music. They did a "Bring A Torch, Jeanette Isabella" from around the world thing where they played the song in different styles, like a polka version, a version with a Russian flair, one with a Jamaican feel (Jon even made the piano sound like steel drums), and one with an Indian feel. Whether you're 5 or 105, this show is for you and if you get a chance to see Jon in concert, GO. Take everyone you know. It'll be the best $12-$15 you ever spend-especially if you're lucky enough to catch a Christmas concert.

The highlight of the evening was when Jon pulled a family up on stage; the father of the family has been in Iraq for the past 6 months and gets to come home on Christmas Eve. There were 3 girls and 2 little boys in the family and Jon was willing to share the stage with one of the boys and let him sing a song about peace that he sings to his daddy on the phone. It was hard not to tear up with that sweet little voice calling for peace in this world. It was even harder not to tear up when Jon announced that their daddy had come home early--and he appeared from backstage. While it may sound a bit contrived or showy, it wasn't. There wasn't a dry eye in the house as the children ran to their daddy who had apparently missed every birthday this year, the youngest child's first steps, and even a wedding anniversary while serving in Iraq.

You can find Jon's music, videos, mp3s, and more at www.jonschmidt.com.