Name: Poetry & Music Series
Start: 2025-12-18T11:00:00-05:00
Location: 1901 23rd St, Vero Beach, FL, United States, Florida 32960

This unique offering developed in 2016 as a series of the spoken word and organ improvisation, and has since enriched our Advent and Lenten seasons while welcoming nationally-recognized and published poets from across the country and around the world.
In 2024 our series expanded to include piano and other instruments, prompting the title change, “Poetry and Music.”
Each year promises a different approach to the themes and emotions the seasons of Advent and Lent can evoke, skillfully curated by Sean Sexton and Director of Music & Fine Arts, Jill Truax.
Sean Sexton was born and raised on his family's Treasure Hammock Ranch and divides his time between managing a 700-acre cow-calf and seed stock operation, painting, and writing. He is author of three full poetry collections including “Portals,” released in 2023. Sean is a board member of the Laura Riding Jackson Foundation and founding event chair of the Annual Poetry and Barbecue featuring writers from all over the US. Sean is the co-founder and curator of the Poetry and Music series and serves as curator for the Viner Series for the Visual Arts at Community Church. Sean’s poetry will be highlighted by the improvisational stylings of pianist, Michael Telesmanick.
Michael Telesmanick, a Berklee College of Music graduate and accomplished multi-instrumentalist, is known to friends as “T” or “Mike T.” At his Berklee graduation, he received his degree from esteemed conductor John Williams and was recognized by legendary drummer Buddy Rich for his talent as a jazz pianist. Over the past 25 years, Mike has composed, performed, and recorded across the U.S. and abroad—leading his own band and collaborating with award-winning artists. Locally, he’s appeared at the Vero Beach Museum of Art’s Concerts in the Park and with the Space Coast Jazz Society. We’re delighted to welcome him back to the Advent Poetry & Music Series.