Mary Oncale has a few passions in life, and when we spoke this week, she took a break from one to share some highlights for another.

The LaPlace resident had been gardening for five hours Tuesday when she stopped to explain, with a great deal of excitement, details of the upcoming free public concerts being put on by Louisiana Ovation Vocal Ensemble.

“It’s exhilarating,” she said. “It puts me in the mood for the Christmas season. You really feel the music. We’re not just singing a song. You’re feeling it as you sing it. It’s meaning something to you.”

This year’s East Bank concert starts at 7 p.m. Dec. 9 at St. Charles United Methodist Church, 1905 Ormond Blvd. in Destrehan, while the West Bank effort is a day later, starting at 7 p.m. Dec. 10 at St. Anthony Catholic Church, 234 Angus Drive in Luling.

In addition, organizers are presenting a Messiah Invitational performance at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 17 at St. Anthony Catholic Church in Luling.

The performances and commitment to the music come natural for Oncale, who was raised by two music-loving parents.

Father William Cambre played saxophone in a 1940s swing band but quit once he had a family.

According to Oncale, her mother, Beulah, continued the love of music by singing at all times in the house.

“My mother sang in school, at football games for the National Anthem; she always was singing,” Oncale said. “She had a beautiful voice.”

Today, Oncale sings at Mass for St. Peter Catholic Church in Reserve.

She joined Louisiana Ovation Vocal Ensemble approximately six years ago when the group was known as Community Chorus of River Parishes.

She’s been singing in the group’s annual Christmas concerts ever since.

“We normally sing at churches,” Oncale said. “We do a lot of spiritual music.”

Oncale praises the leadership of Ensemble director Brian Martinez Jr., calling him wonderful and a gem.

Mainly, she credited his guidance for creating a concert that means as much to audience members as it does for the performers.

“We love Brian,” she said. “He has so much energy. He brings so much energy to our concerts. He focuses on how music feels and how to sing it with that feeling. He actually teaches us music. We don’t just sing. He teaches how to sing.”

The longtime teacher and current music director at Lakewood Elementary School has been singing since he was a child.

He leads a group, with close to 70 members at times, by having a lot of fun.

“We have a good time,” Oncale said. “It’s a good group of people, a lot of church people who are already in church choirs. We end up feeling like a family. We care about each other.

“(Our members) come in and out. We don’t demand anything from anybody. We’re there to make music and be together.”

Audience members this year will enjoy classics like “O Come, O Come, Emmanuel,” “Joy to the World,” “It Came Upon the Midnight Clear,” “Silent Night” and Little Town of Bethlehem.”

One of the favorites Oncale is looking forward to is “What Child is This?”

A special treat this year includes the Ensemble’s performance of “Messiah.”

“The music travels quickly, there is a lot a runs in it,” Oncale said. “We really have to learn this one. It’s different pieces within a major work. It’s lively. It gets you in the mood for Christmas.”

Many thanks to the Louisiana Ovation Vocal Ensemble volunteers for providing our community with a chance to enjoy this Christmas season in the warmest spirit possible.

Stephen Hemelt is publisher and editor of L’OBSERVATEUR. He can be reached at 985-652-9545 or stephen.hemelt@lobservateur.com.