Interview with Marta Rose-Thorpe
Sergey Bogza, the charismatic Music Director and Conductor of the Panama City Symphony arrived in Florida three years ago with a journey that started thousands of miles away, winding through Oregon, Illinois, and thirty-eight U.S. states—plus a few jaunts to Canada.
Accompanied by his two loyal Belgian Malinois, Samson and Stella, he explored much of the country during the pandemic. “Travel was unexpectedly affordable,” Sergey recalls, “so instead of staying put, I packed up, booked some dog-friendly hotels and Airbnbs, and hit the road.” His travels eventually brought him to Florida, where he spent three weeks exploring Tallahassee. Before leaving, he couldn’t resist a final stop: Panama City Beach, a place he’d heard so much about.
“When I first visited, I had no idea Panama City Beach had a symphony,” Sergey admits. “I thought, wouldn’t it be amazing to live here one day?” He left town, but the notion lingered. Just a few months later, the Panama City Symphony posted an opening for Music Director, and fate seemed to call him back. “It felt serendipitous. Conducting positions like this one are rare—two or three open across the country in any given year. So, being offered the position was a genuine honor. It was a musical lottery win—finding a role that aligns with my vision and values, in a community that shares those values.” Panama City felt like a place where he could not only make music but also lay down roots.
An Artistic Renaissance in Panama City
Sergey sees the spirit of renewal everywhere in Panama City, especially in its vibrant arts scene. “There’s such a feeling of renaissance here,” he says. “Every time you leave for a few weeks and return, something new has sprung up—a new restaurant, a freshly paved street, a building rising. There’s a sense of growth that’s exciting and inspiring, for both the arts and the people who call this place home.” Panama City is transforming, and it’s clear that Sergey finds his role in its cultural revival immensely fulfilling. “The energy here is like nowhere else. The community is truly on the same wavelength, and I feel that they’re open to what we’re creating together with the symphony.”
A Christmas of Simple Joys
When asked about Christmas, Sergey’s eyes light up, revealing cherished memories of holiday seasons in the small village on the Russia-Ukraine border where he grew up. His family, though modest in means, infused every holiday with magic. “We didn’t have much, so Christmas was all about simplicity,” he remembers fondly. “We’d cut down a fresh tree from the woods, and as the eldest, it was my job to carry it home. The cold was intense, freezing your nose and fingers, but the smell of that tree made it all worth it. Every decoration we had was handmade, every meal homemade. The only music we could hear was what we made ourselves—my dad playing guitar, our family singing. It was a Christmas you couldn’t buy; you had to create it.” For Sergey, one of the most special parts of those childhood Christmases was the caroling. “In a village of only two thousand people, the local musicians and church choir would go house to house, singing in harmony. It was beautifully primitive, a pure joy that’s hard to recreate.”
Recreating Tradition in Modern Times
Although Christmas is different now, Sergey makes a point each year to capture that same purity. With a growing family of nieces and nephews, there are now many holiday gatherings, yet he finds himself drawn to moments of simplicity. “I pick one day during the season to shut off technology, make a homemade meal, and listen to Bach’s Christmas Oratorio. That’s as close as I can get to the magic I remember.” As a conductor, Sergey understands the unique joys and sacrifices that come with his role. Holidays for him now mean preparing concerts that will bring together families and friends in Panama City. “Being a musician, you’re often away from your own family during the holidays, creating the Christmas spirit for others instead,” he says thoughtfully. “If I were to leave and visit my family in Oregon, I’d miss the chance to perform for the families here who look forward to our concerts.”
For Sergey, this season is a time of happiness, but it’s also bittersweet. “It’s a beautiful exchange. Though I may miss my own family’s celebrations, seeing the joy and magic our performances bring to people here is deeply rewarding. Sharing music is what I love, and I get to share it with a community that appreciates every note.” With his incredible journey, his passion for the arts, and his love for his new community, Sergey Bogza has found in Panama City a place where music, tradition, and community come together in perfect harmony.
The Panama City Symphony has upcoming holiday concerts. If you feel like getting out and doing something festive with your family, please check out:
∙ Holiday by the Bay on Saturday, December 14 at 7 p.m., Bay High School; with special guest, tenor Justin John Moniz, the familiar sounds of the season will come alive!
∙ Musically Up Close on Friday, December 27 at 6 p.m., City Hall Rotunda, Downtown Panama City; this concert features award-winning soprano Alexandra Razskazoff in a mixture of Christmas-meets-New Year’s. Tickets are available on panamacitysymphony.org.
