Tea & Symphony - An Elegant Tea & Classical Music Afternoon at Pocono Mountains Music Festival

DR. EDWARD W. HARDY (Violin - Tea & Symphony) has been praised by The New York Times for composing “omnipresent music” and playing “the violin superbly”. A critically acclaimed Black and Puerto Rican composer, music director, virtuoso violinist and violist, he is recognized as one of the foremost exponents of solo violin repertoire for theatrical productions. Dr. Hardy served as the composer, music director and violinist of the sensational Off-Broadway show The Woodsman, earning the 2016 Obie Award, 2014 Jim Henson Foundation Grant, and was broadcast on PBS stations four separate times. While remaining dedicated to arts education and creative entrepreneurship, Dr. Hardy is the founder of the Omnipresent Music Festival, and the co-founder/ past senior director of operations of the Northern Colorado Center for Arts Entrepreneurship, and the previous digital marketing director and artistic advisor of the Beethoven in the Rockies Concert Series. Over the past decade, Dr. Hardy held violin teaching/ performing residencies and, as a visiting artist, gave masterclasses and lectures at numerous music programs and universities spanning New York City to Los Angeles, California. In May 2024, Hardy earned a Doctor of Arts degree in violin performance from the University of Northern Colorado. He remains an active and dedicated performing artist throughout the United States with venues including Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center, the Kennedy Center, and many others. Currently, Hardy's discography contains 8 singles, 1 album, and his list of original compositions include works for solo violin, voice, harp, piano, string quartet, string trio, string duo, Latin ensemble, and soundtracks for film and stage. Dr. Hardy has research in non-traditional string techniques and beyond his history of premiering contemporary works, his dissertation, "A Compendium of Three Musical Works Inspired by the African American Experience: Recordings, Commentary, and Pedagogical Observations," and his children’s coloring book, “Color the Legacy: A Coloring Book of African American Cultural Pioneers” was published this summer. www.edwardwhardy.com.

BRANDI INEZ SUTTON (Soprano - Tea & Symphony) Hailed by Opera News for her “sumptuous, mid-weight soprano,” and The New York Times for her “warm, ample voice,” “ravishing performance” and “distinctive earthy coloring,” Ms. Brandie Inez Sutton, born with her unique sound, and having grown up around the musical institution, Oakwood University, she was destined fora musical career. She has appeared in concert halls and on opera stages around the world. Her love for the art of performing, together with her persistence and tenacity, have afforded her many opportunities to portray some of the most endearing soprano roles. Most recently, Violetta in Verdi’s La Traviata with Virginia Opera, Zerbinetta in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos with Lakes Area Music Festival, La Fèe in Massenet’s Cendrillon at The Metropolitan Opera, and Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto with New York City Opera. Some notable house debuts for Ms. Sutton also include Seattle Opera, Spoleto Music Festival, Detroit Opera, Fort Worth Opera, Opera Philadelphia, Semperoper Dresden, Palacio deBellas Artes, Opera Maine, Teatro Petruzzelli, and many more. Concert appearances include Richmond Symphony Orchestra, South Florida Symphony Orchestra, Royal Danish Symphony Orchestra, Amarillo Symphony, Radio Orpheus Symphony Orchestrain Moscow, and the Krasnoyarsk Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. As a versatile vocalist, Ms. Sutton has appeared as a guest soloist with Wynton Marsalis’ Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra. She has appeared several times at Carnegie Hall with artists from Cyrus Chestnut to the Cecilia Chorus of New York. This summer she took part in a historical journey as she premiered the title role in Damien Sneed and Karen Chilton’s reimagining of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha commissioned by Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Next season she will again return to The Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Sutton’s fervent interest in social justice has also engaged her outside of the opera house. More than once has she participated in events for EJI (Equal Justice Initiative), chosen personally by its founder Bryan Stevenson to share her gift. She has also been immortalized as a hologram in the organization’s Legacy Museum: From Slavery to Mass Incarceration located in Montgomery, AL; appearing in concert with Andra Day, Bebe Winans and John Legend for its opening ceremonies.

ROBERT MACK (Tenor - Tea & Symphony) has received glorious reviews for his powerful but sweet lyric tenor voice. He recently performed with The Metropolitan Opera (The Life and Times of Malcolm X), Greensboro Opera (Kasper), Cascadia Chamber Opera (Don Ottavio), and the title role of Emmett Till in New York City and Sportin’Life in Porgy and Bess with Greensboro Opera. He has appeared at Seattle Opera, Metropolitan Opera House, Houston Grand Opera, Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera Carolina, Nashville Opera, Grand Rapids Opera, Pittsburgh Opera, Toledo Opera, New York City Opera, Toledo Opera, Indianapolis Opera, Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, Traverse City Symphony, Springfield Symphony, Margaret Island Open-Air Theatre in Budapest, The Paris Bastille, Teatro Real in Spain, The Royal Danish Opera, Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City, Opéra Français de New York, Irish Repertory Theatre in NYC. He performed tenor solos with The Collegiate Chorale and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Company in Revelations, Three Mo’ Tenors, The American Spiritual Ensemble and performed in Spoleto Festival’s premiere of Amistad where the critics made mention of his very solid performance. He also performed in both the national and international tours of Smokey Joe’s Café. He can be heard on DECCA records, Paragon records, and KSW Music. He also serves as General/Artistic Director of Opera Noire International.

PHILLIP K. BULLOCK (Baritone - Tea & Symphony) has been praised by Opera News for his “appealingly suave baritone” and featured in operas, recitals and concerts throughout the United States and Europe. Phillip’s recent engagements include his appearance as Zodzetrick in Damien Sneed’s reimagining of Scott Joplin’s Treemonisha with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, and the roles of Cato and Watchman in Gregory Spears and Tracy K. Smith’s new critically acclaimed opera, Castor and Patience, voted the Best New Opera of 2022 by The New York Times. Additionally, he appeared in Scott Davenport-Richards genre bending opera Blind Injustice, Diane White-Clayton’s commissioned work Many Mansions with Boston Landmarks Orchestra, Dave Brubeck’s Gates of Justice with the Brubeck Trio and University of California Los Angeles orchestras, as well as creating and recording the role of the God of Love in Long Beach Opera’s premiere of Pulitzer nominee Kate Soper’s opera The Romance of the Rose. For more information visit www.PhillipBullock.com

KYLE P. WALKER (Pianist - Tea & Symphony) is a renowned pianist known for his passionate dedication for using music as a tool for addressing societal concerns, stands at the forefront of a musical movement. His career has garnered critical acclaim, with notable performances featured on prestigious media outlets like NPR, WQXR, and PBS. He has graced renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall's Weill Hall, Lincoln Center, The Kennedy Center, The Apollo Theater, and international stages from Australia's Tantaloona Cave to the Adelaide Town Hall. In a pivotal moment, Walker's 2023 solo performance marked the debut of classical piano music at the SXSW Music Festival in Austin, TX, making waves in the industry. He is also the pianist of Dara + Kyle, a groundbreaking piano/cello duo recognized with the 2021 Chamber Music America "Ensemble Forward" career grant, devoted to championing underrepresented composers. Kyle is an integral part of The Harlem Chamber Players, bringing classical music to diverse communities, and a founding member of The Dream Unfinished, an activist orchestra supporting NYC-based civil rights organizations. As an instructor, Walker shares his expertise as a member of piano artist faculty at New York University, the Lucy Moses School at Kaufman Music Center, and The Artist Program at Suzuki on the Island. He engages students and community members in discussions about arts activism and curriculum diversity, reflecting the communities they serve. With a strong commitment to fostering musical talent, Kyle Walker's impact extends far beyond the concert stage, and his unique fusion of J.S. Bach's compositions with those of neglected composers resonate deeply with issues of oppression and inequality. To discover more about his musical journey, visit www.kylewalkerpiano.com.