How Christ the King Episcopal Church is becoming one of the Emerald Coast’s newest homes for live music
By Arlon Jay Staggs
When most people think of a concert venue, they likely don’t picture a quiet church tucked away beneath the pines of Santa Rosa Beach.
Yet, that’s exactly what Christ the King Episcopal Church is becoming.
This fall, the church launches Music at Christ the King, a new concert and educational series that’s bringing internationally acclaimed musicians, local performers, student artists, and music lovers together in one of the area’s most intimate listening spaces. The church itself makes an ideal setting. With its soaring wood ceilings, the sanctuary offers warm, resonant acoustics that reward both performers and audiences alike. Still, the series is an ambitious vision rooted in a simple idea: music has the power to build community.
The inaugural season begins Sunday, August 23, with Roman Street, the guitar duo of brothers, Noah and Joshua Thompson. Blending contemporary jazz, Latin, Nuevo Flamenco, classical, and gypsy influences, Roman Street has earned multiple Billboard Top 25 singles, toured internationally, and shared the stage with artists including George Benson, The Gipsy Kings, Dave Koz, Bela Fleck, Ziggy Marley, and Maroon 5.
The music series is the vision of Dr. Kristin Wendland, who joined Christ the King as Director of Music Ministries in February 2025.
For Wendland, this is something of a homecoming.
A Panhandle native, she served as organist at St. Jude’s Episcopal Church in Niceville while in high school before earning degrees from Florida State University, the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music, and the Graduate Center of the City University of New York. She then spent twenty-five years on the music faculty at Emory University in Atlanta and is the author of three books, including two on Argentine tango and a recent work exploring how yoga shaped the life and artistry of violinist Yehudi Menuhin.
After returning home to Northwest Florida, Wendland saw an opportunity to help restore Christ the King’s role as a musical and cultural resource for the community. “Music has an extraordinary ability to bring people together,” she says. “Whether someone comes to hear a concert, joins a community chorus, or simply learns something new, those experiences create connections and moments that last far beyond a performance.”
Since arriving, Wendland has strengthened the parish choir, revived the Emerald Coast Community Singers, and begun establishing Christ the King as a place where professional artists, student musicians, and the wider community can share the joy of live music.
Roman Street is only the beginning. While the world-class artists will launch the season, the Emerald Coast Community Singers serve as the heart of the Music at Christ the King series. Recently reinvigorated under Wendland’s leadership, the chorus brings together singers from across the community and will present two cornerstone performances this fall: A Celebration of American Music in September and a Christmas concert in December.
Rounding out the season are interactive musical conversations, concerts featuring local artists, and student recitals that reflect Wendland’s vision of a music ministry extending well beyond Sunday mornings.
The variety is intentional. Rather than simply presenting concerts, Music at Christ the King invites audiences to experience music from many perspectives—as listeners, learners, participants, and neighbors.
In a region celebrated for its beaches and outdoor recreation, Christ the King is carving out a unique place within the Emerald Coast’s growing arts community by offering a space where people can discover exceptional music together.
Admission for all events is by donation, making the series accessible to everyone. For a complete schedule of concerts and events, visit Christ the King’s Music Ministries page at christthekingfl.org.
Arlon Jay Staggs is an award-winning author and Southern storyteller. His debut novel, Leta Pearl’s Love Biscuits was published in 2025 and was named Best New Voice in Fiction by the Independent Book Publishers Association. His writing has appeared in The New York Times and December Magazine. He teaches English at Northwest Florida State College and lives in Inlet Beach.
