Live entertainment
David Witte
Pianist · Entertainer
David Witte has been a fixture at the Christner’s since the piano bar opened in 2000, bringing decades of experience and a wide-ranging musical style shaped by everything from Frank Sinatra and the Great American Songbook to rock, country and Broadway. Known for reading the room, taking requests and making each night feel different, David has become a familiar part of the Christner’s experience and a longtime member of its extended family.
A closer look
Performance Gallery
Every night’s different. Sometimes people are there to enjoy dinner and want the music in the background, and other nights the whole room gets involved with requests. You never quite know where the evening is going to take you, and that’s what makes it fun.— David Witte
In his own words
Q&A with David
How would you describe your style of music in three words?
“Versatile, familiar and all-encompassing. I play across a lot of different styles and genres, and I try to give each song my own touch while still keeping the character that made people love it in the first place.”
Is there a song you love playing because guests always sing along, smile or request it?
“Danny’s Song” by Loggins and Messina is a song that always seems to move people and it naturally gets the whole room to sing along at the chorus. “Fly Me to the Moon” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love” are also two of the songs I probably get requested the most.
If someone is visiting Christner’s for the first time, what song do you hope they’ll hear you play?
“I’d probably want them to hear ‘The Way You Look Tonight.’ That whole Frank Sinatra and Great American Songbook style fits Christner’s so well. We’re there in tuxedos, you’ve got that atmosphere in the room, and that kind of music just feels right.”
What’s your favorite item on the Christner’s menu?
“I tend to go for the filet mignon and the chateau potatoes, but the lobster is really something special. There’s nothing else quite like it. And the lobster bisque is extraordinary—they actually put chunks of lobster in it, which is something you don’t find very often.”
What’s your favorite part about performing at Christner’s?
“Well, just working with the Christner family all these years has been a treat in itself. They make you feel like you really belong and give you the freedom to entertain the crowd as you see fit. My favorite part of performing here is that every night is different. You have such a varied clientele. Some people want to enjoy dinner with a little music in the background, and other nights the whole room gets very involved with requests. You never quite know where the evening is going to take you, and that makes it fun.”
Frank Sinatra and that whole Great American Songbook style fit the room beautifully, especially with the tuxedos and the atmosphere at Christner’s. But I also play Jerry Lee Lewis, Elvis, Billy Joel, Elton John, country and Broadway. The room lends itself to a lot of different music.— David Witte
More About David
How did your career as a pianist eventually lead you to Christner’s?
“I grew up in a musical family in the Midwest and started playing from about as early as I can remember. I played in the family band, then got my first piano bar job in Wisconsin when I was around 17 or 18. From there I worked around Wisconsin, spent some time with Carnival Cruise Lines, and then moved to Orlando to work at Disney. Eventually I found my way to Christner’s in 2000, and I’ve been there ever since.”
What makes the piano bar at Christner’s different from other places you’ve played?
“The biggest thing is that every night can be completely different. Sometimes people are there to enjoy dinner and want the music to sit in the background, and other nights the room becomes very request-driven and interactive. The clientele is so varied, and the atmosphere Christner’s has created makes it a really enjoyable place to perform.”
Keep listening
Follow David Witte
YouTubeEnjoy more piano performances and familiar favorites on David Witte’s YouTube channel.
I definitely play songs in my own way, but I still want people to recognize what made the song special in the first place. It’s never going to be note for note. As a solo entertainer, you have the freedom to let the song breathe and change a little from one night to the next.— David Witte
Live music at Christner’s
Meet our entertainers
A talented lineup bringing warmth, music, and personality to the dining room.
