Victorian Holiday Concert Brings Historic Instruments to Oak Harbor

John Doan presented a Victorian themed holiday concert at Oak Harbor United Methodist Church on Sunday, December 16 at 4 p.m., drawing from his Emmy nominated PBS special to showcase music and customs from the late nineteenth century. The program featured unusual and historic instruments, including a 20 string harp guitar, classical banjo, and ukelin, framing a nostalgic look at holiday traditions from an era before radio and television.

The performance emphasized the domestic and parlor nature of Victorian entertainment, focusing on arrangements and timbres that would have been heard in private homes rather than public concert halls. Listeners experienced a musical narrative about how families and small communities marked the season, with instrument choices intended to evoke the texture and intimacy of pre radio and television musical life.

Tickets for the concert were offered on a donation basis, with suggested amounts of $10 for adults, $5 for those aged 12 to 18, and free admission for children under 12. Local outlets handled ticket distribution in advance, with sales available at Daily Grind, Coupeville Pharmacy, and the church office. The donation based structure aimed to reduce financial barriers and encourage attendance by families and older residents on fixed incomes.

Beyond the immediate performance, the event underscored the role of congregational and small business institutions in sustaining local arts. By hosting the concert, Oak Harbor United Methodist Church acted as a community cultural venue, and partnerships with nearby businesses for ticket distribution reinforced a local network that supports civic life. The choice of a donation model and family friendly pricing reflected a priority on accessibility and intergenerational engagement.

For Island County residents, the concert offered more than seasonal entertainment. It provided a living demonstration of historic instruments and performance practices, and reinforced the value of community based cultural programming in preserving local heritage and expanding civic participation in the arts.