Charlie Brown Christmas Piano Concert
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A Community Piano Tradition at St. Barnabas
On Sunday, December 21, St. Barnabas Episcopal Church hosted its 4th annual A Charlie Brown Christmas piano concert, welcoming more than 90 people from the Borrego Springs community.
The program was inspired by A Charlie Brown Christmas, now marking its 60th year since its original 1965 broadcast. The special is known for its quiet message and its distinctive jazz score by Vince Guaraldi, which has become closely associated with the holiday season.
Pianist Steve T. Hunter performed piano selections drawn from the music of the program, using the familiar melodies to reflect on the central question raised in the story — what is Christmas all about? Hunter’s musical background includes classical training, jazz and blues performance, studio work, and decades of musical theatre playing and conducting.
During the concert, Fr. Michael Plekon took the part of Linus, referencing the well-known moment from the story when Linus explains the meaning of Christmas. Fr. Plekon spoke about the Christmas message traditionally drawn from the Gospel of Luke, reflecting on the Nativity and its significance in a way that echoed the spirit of that scene.
The concert concluded with the audience singing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing.”
Donations were collected during the event to support
community members in need, continuing St. Barnabas’ tradition of pairing seasonal programs with local outreach and care.
About Steve T. Hunter
Steve T. Hunter, born in Pasadena in 1956, began piano at age six. By 1964 he was studying under Robert E. Turner, a noted American pianist with lineage to Juilliard teachers Josef and Rosina Lhevinne. His early training blended classical technique with a strong ear, developing his ability to play both written music and by-ear arrangements of popular songs.
After relocating to Ontario as a teenager, Hunter enrolled in the jazz program at Humber College in Toronto, where he adapted his classical foundation to professional performance. By the late 1970s he was working full time in show bands and lounge settings, performing six nights a week and developing versatility across classical, jazz, rock, and rhythm-and-blues repertoires.
Hunter established himself in Toronto’s studio scene in the 1980s, playing on commercial recordings and developing his arranging and production skills. His career expanded into musical theatre with long-term roles in productions such as CATS and TOMMY, where he performed, arranged, and eventually conducted.
Over several decades he worked with notable mentors and collaborators across jazz, theatre, and commercial music, shaping a broad professional background.
Professional Highlights
- Released ten solo recordings
- Toured throughout the U.S. and Canada
- Performed for a Canadian Prime Minister
- Performed for a sitting U.S. President at the Kennedy Center
- Built a four-decade career in Toronto spanning performance, arranging, conducting, studio work, and composition
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