Jessye Norman News

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts presents Inna Faliks, piano, one of the most "adventurous and passionate" (The New Yorker) artists of her generation, performing a world premiere by Richard Danielpour and works by Rodion Shchedrin, Schumann and Chopin in her Wallis debut on Sunday, May 12, 2019, 7 pm, in The Wallis' Bram Goldsmith Theater.

Darius J. Manuel dazzled the judges at the NSAL Florida East Coast Drama Competition held recently at The Crest Theatre at Old School Square. Darius won the $2,000 first prize and an all-expense paid trip to compete at the NSAL National Drama Competition in Washington, D.C. Manuel lives in Lauderhill and is the Teaching Artist/Director of the Florida Children's Theatre in Fort Lauderdale.

Mark Markham, a pianist who is equally at home as a soloist, collaborator with some of the world's most esteemed singers, a vocal coach and a jazz pianist, will be heard in a program that showcases his versatility as one of the world's finest artists of his generation. The breadth of his repertoire will be heard on his innovative program titled My Songs without Words taking place on Thursday, March 21, 2019, at The Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on its Caritas benefit series. Caritas is the Latin word for charity and all proceeds from this concert will be given directly to charities that address social justice concerns. A reception open to the public takes place at 7pm followed by the concert at 7:30pm.

The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, pays tribute to Nat King Cole's centennial with Unforgettable: Celebrating Nat King Cole and Friends today, February 8 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall.

According to Variety, Michel Legrand, three-time Oscar winning composer has passed away at age 86.

Acclaimed multi-genre recording artist Damien Sneed released a new full-length recording titled 'Damien Sneed: We Shall Overcome' on LeChateau Earl Records on January 18th. The inspiring new project is currently available on iTunes, Amazon, Google Play, and all other digital retail outlets everywhere. A celebration of R&B classics, civil rights anthems, beloved spirituals, jazz compositions and more, the album arrives on the heels of the 35th Anniversary of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, which was made a federal holiday in 1983.

Composer, arranger, and conductor, David Berger, is recognized internationally as a leading authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing Era. Conductor and arranger for the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra from its inception in 1988 through 1994, Berger has transcribed more than 750 full scores of classic recordings, including more than 500 works by Duke Ellington and Billy Strayhorn. Several of these transcriptions in addition to a number of original arrangements are featured in last season's Broadway hit, After Midnight.

Breakout recording artist, Damien Sneed, will bring his brand of jazz and gospel music to The Soraya for an evening of We Shall Overcome A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Joining him for this musical tribute to the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King will be two of LA's leading gospel singers, Grammy Award-winner Erica Campbell and evangelist Markita Knight.

Multi-genre recording artist Damien Sneed embarks on a 36-city North American tour, 'We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.' The Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient will bring his brand of classical, jazz, and gospel music to concert halls and universities in the U.S. and Canada. The tour kicks off at the Empire Center on Friday, January 11, 2019, at The Egg in Albany, NY, and will conclude on March 3 at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA.

The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, pays tribute to Nat King Cole's centennial with Unforgettable: Celebrating Nat King Cole and Friends on Friday, February 8 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall.

IMG Artists, today's leading global performing arts management agency, announces a 36-city North American tour with multi-genre recording artist Damien Sneed. The Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient will bring his brand of classical, jazz, and gospel music to “We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., featuring Damien Sneed.” The tour will kick off on Friday, January 11, 2019, at the Empire Center at The Egg in Albany, NY, and will make stops at concert halls and universities in the U.S. and Canada. The tour will conclude on March 3 at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA.

The National Society of Arts and Letters has discovered an array of stars including actress Shirley MacLaine, opera singer Jessye Norman, Broadway great Megan Hilty. Now, the Florida East Coast Chapter, (including the Keys to Orlando) is seeking dramatic actors and operatic singers to compete for their moment in the spotlight! Applications for The National Drama Competition and the Dorothy Lincoln-Smith Competition are now open at www.nsalfloridaeast.org.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Georgetown University celebrate the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. with a free, ticketed musical tribute titled Let Freedom Ring!

Los Angeles Children's Chorus (LACC), one of the world's leading children's choirs, celebrates the holidays with its annual Winter Concert, entitled "Winter Wonderland: Sounds of the Season," which marks the first stand-alone program led by the Chorus' new Artistic Director, Fernando Malvar-Ruiz, on two consecutive Sundays, December 9 and 16, 2018, at 7:30 pm, at Pasadena Presbyterian Church. Some 250 choristers are featured in the multi-media vocal program, which is geared for people of all ages and includes an array of favorite carols, seasonal songs from Venezuela and winter-themed works by Bach, Kodaly, Elgar, Verdi, Saint-Saens and others.

World-renowned opera singer and Broadway star Alyson Cambridge will perform a special holiday solo concert, accompanied by pianist Michael Fennelly, at Carnegie Hall's beautiful Weill Recital Hall on Sunday, November 25 at 7:30PM.

The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia (COP) explores the sound of the pipa alongside familiar European repertoire with works of Mozart and Dvo?ak. These works for strings by master composers are followed by a traditional Chinese tune arranged by COP's own Dirk Brosse. The Pipa is showcased alongside the Chamber Orchestra's sound in Lou Harrison's Concerto for Pipa with String Orchestra. Wu Man will also first introduce us to the instrument by playing a solo piece for the Pipa in the intimate setting of the Perelman Theater.

NAACP National Board of Directors Chairman Leon W. Russell announced the Association is soliciting nominations for the 104th Spingarn Award.  All nominations for the 104th Spingarn Medal must be submitted, in writing, on or before December 31, 2018.  To be accepted, the postmark date on the envelope must be no later than December 31, 2018.

IMG Artists, today's leading global performing arts management agency, announces a 36-city North American tour with multi-genre recording artist Damien Sneed. The Sphinx Medal of Excellence recipient will bring his brand of classical, jazz, and gospel music to 'We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., featuring Damien Sneed.' The tour will kick off on Friday, January 11, 2019, at the Empire Center at The Egg in Albany, NY, and will make stops at concert halls and universities in the U.S. and Canada. The tour will conclude on March 3 at the Gallo Center for the Arts in Modesto, CA.

Young opera singers from across the United States, Canada, Puerto Rico, and for the first time, Mexico, will compete for $15,000 cash prizes and the opportunity to launch major operatic careers, when the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions launches its 65th annual auditions program this fall. Over 1,000 singers between the ages of 20 and 30 will participate in the program, the longest-running singing competition in the country. Finalists will perform on the stage of the Met at the Grand Finals Concert on Sunday, March 31, 2019.