The American Prize is pleased to announce the solo quartet and four cover artists for "
SOMETHING WONDERFUL—the music of Rodgers and Hammerstein," 2015 winners of the Chicago Musical Theater Award.
The winning vocal quartet and cover artists will participate in two performances of
SOMETHING WONDERFUL,
presented by The Chicago Bar Association Symphony Orchestra and the CBA
Chorus, David Katz, conductor, in partnership with the Elgin Master
Chorale, Sunday, March
22, 2015 at 3:30 pm in the Blizzard Theater at Elgin Community College,
Elgin, IL, and again on Sunday, April 26, 2015 at 7:30 pm at Symphony
Center/Orchestra Hall,
Chicago.
PURCHASE Elgin tickets here.
PURCHASE Chicago tickets here.
The FOUR WINNERS of the Chicago Musical Theater Award, 2015 are:
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| TANIA ARAZI COAMBS, soprano |
Born in Cumaná, Venezuela, Tania Arazi Coambs is a
passionate and versatile performer, stage director, and writer.
Recognized for her “searing and intense acting and singing”, she has
appeared internationally at the Shaw Theatre in London; St. Peter’s
Basilica in Rome; the Urbania City Theater in Italy; the Errol Hill
Theater in Bridgetown, Barbados; Muson Centre in Lagos, Nigeria; and
with the Amadeus Opern Ensemble in Salzburg, Austria. She has also
performed with the Allerton Music Barn Festival, Opera Venezuela, the
Pittsburgh Savoyards, Station Theatre, Illinois Opera Theater, and with
the Danville Symphony Orchestra. Previous roles include Aldonza in The
Man of La Mancha, Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro, Gretel in Hansel und
Gretel, Aline in The Sorcerer, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, Linfea in La
Calisto, Arsena in Der Zigeunerbaron, Edith in The Pirates of Penzance,
Annie in The Game of Love, Wren in A Body of Water, Nurse Ruth Kelley
in Harvey, and Mrs. Webb in Our Town, as well as originating the role of
Dr. Vivian Watson in an international tour to Barbados, England, and
Nigeria of the play Preemptive.
With her strong
interest in Spanish music and art song, as well as in jazz, French
cabaret, and tango music, she has performed in concerts around the
Midwest with groups such as the George Turner Trio, Tango Espejo,
Tempest Performers, as well as presented recitals at the Mid-America
Guitar Festival, the Southern Illinois Music Festival, and Krannert
Center for the Performing Arts.
Tania’s recent directing projects
include The Tender Land, Trouble in Tahiti, and Signor Deluso at Indiana
University of Pennsylvania, as well as workshopping and directing
scenes from her own opera, Catatumbo, based on her own libretto and
composed by Griffin Candey at the University of Illinois. Other
previous directing projects include productions of Stop Kiss, Roméo et
Juliette, Feeding the Moonfish, The Informer, Brundibár, A Canoe on the
Lake, and co-director of Don Giovanni. Tania currently serves at the
Director of Opera/Music Theater at Indiana University of Pennsylvania
and is a doctoral candidate in Vocal Performance and Literature at the
University of Illinois.
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| KATE RYAN, mezzo-soprano |
Mezzo-Soprano
Kate Ryan is a versatile singer/actress who returns to Chicago after
ten years in California. This December, she debuted as the mezzo-soprano
soloist with the Waukegan Symphony Orchestra and Chorus for Handel's
Messiah, and performed as a soloist with choir and orchestra at several
sold-out performances of DePaul University’s Christmas at DePaul. Kate
works as a singer/pianist for Howl at the Moon Chicago’s Howl2Go
Program, and has performed for Chicago Dueling Piano’s, and in regular
cabaret at Davenport’s Piano Bar. Recent musical theater credits include
A Christmas Carol, at San Jose Repertory Theater, Hairspray at Coastal
Rep and Cabrillo Stage, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels with Broadway by the
Bay, The Light in the Piazza with Palo Alto Players, and the title role
in the National Tour of Strega Nona the Musical. Ms. Ryan has served as
an Adjunct Professor of Voice and Musical Theatre at Santa Clara
University, and has worked on the Bay Area’s biggest stages as an actor
and musical director. Kate was a print and commercial model for Marla
Dell Talent in San Francisco, and has performed on tour as a backup
vocalist for Ben Folds. She currently studies voice with international
and Metropolitan Opera performing artist Jane Bunnell. Kate is a proud
graduate of The Boston Conservatory, and a member of Actor’s Equity
Association. Kate would like to extend her gratitude to Maestro Katz,
the members of the chorus and orchestra, and the American Prize for this
incredible opportunity. www.katesingingryan.com
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| JUSTIN JOHN MONIZ, tenor |
American tenor Justin John Moniz has earned great
acclaim for his “comic chops and huge voice”. Lauded by the South
Florida Classical Review as a "superb high tenor" and a "vocal
standout", his "refined" work has also been praised by the Miami Herald
and Cape Cod Times. His unique style and versatility has afforded him an
active career in concert, opera, and musical theatre. Mr. Moniz began
the 2014/15 season with his debut as Gastone in La traviata, with the
Opera Company of Middlebury, where he also covered the role of Alfredo.
He returned for a second season with Sarasota Opera in Pagliacci and
The Hobbit, where he “turned Old Bilbo (Moniz) into an unforgettable
creation bound to turn youthful audiences into future opera lovers” (The
Observer). Moniz made a triumphant return to Miami this winter, where
he joined the Civic Chorale of Greater Miami in Handel’s Messiah, and
made his company debut in DreamCatcher Theatre’s production of Into the
Woods at the Adrienne Arsht Center, in the roles of Cinderella's Prince
and The Wolf. Mr. Moniz garnered critical acclaim for his “rich tenor”
(The Miami Hurricane), “commanding stage presence” (TalkinBroadway.com)
and “comic chops and huge voice” (The Miami Herald). He most recently
made his role and company debut as Nanki-Poo in Gulfshore Opera's
production of The Mikado. In previous seasons, Moniz has appeared with
Sarasota Opera, Florida Grand Opera, Opera New Jersey, Center Stage
Opera (CA), Orchestra Miami, and the Utah Festival Opera &
Musical Theatre, where he made a triumphant debut as Cassio in Otello,
with less than ten minutes notice. Mr. Moniz holds degrees from the
Frost School of Music at the University of Miami and the Crane School of
Music at SUNY Potsdam, where he was recently selected as the recipient
of the 2015 Rising Star Award. He is a proud member of the American
Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA) and the Actors’ Equity Association
(AEA). For more information: www.justinjohnmoniz.com
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| DELSHAWN TAYLOR, baritone |
Delshawn Taylor is a junior at Indiana
University South Bend where is he studying Psychology with a Spanish
minor. He has musically directed and accompanied over 10 musical
productions. He has performed lead operatic roles such as Chevalier de
la Force in Dialogue of the Carmelites (Opera Notre Dame), Dr. Falke in
Die Fledermaus Tartuffe (UE Opera), The Pig in Jonathan Dove’s The
Enchanted Pig, and currently learning the role of Gianni Schicchi in
Gianni Schicchi (St. Mary’s Opera). He was a Top 5 Finalist in
Michiana’s Rising Star and placed second in LaPorte Symphony Orchestra’s
Hoosier Star Vocal Competition in the fall of 2014. As a young
musician, Delshawn has been mentored by Maestro Tsung Yeh of the South
Bend Symphony, Maestro Thomas Wilkins of the Omaha Symphony Orchestra,
and Dr. Marvin Curtis, Dean of the Ernestine Ranclin School of the Arts.
He has served as Director of Music at Zoar United Church of Christ and
currently serves as the Music Director at Sacred Heart Parish. As an
aspiring choral composer, Delshawn is on the rise to success with
growing commissions. He will be premiering his own setting of The Songs
of Solomon for soprano, baritone, tenor, women’s chorus and chamber
orchestra in February of 2016 and setting of seven poems by Emily
Dickinson for voice and piano. To give back to his community, Delshawn
recently started a thriving children’s choir at the Boys & Girls
Club. He is the founder of Music for the Soul, an organization that
annually unites an entire musical community across two states to raises
money in a benefit concert for The Memorial Children’s Hospital and is
dedicated to encouraging young singers from elementary to high school,
that their voice can make a difference. Delshawn will compete in the
second round of Classical Singer Magazine Musical Theatre Competition
this May in Chicago. He is studies privately with Ms. Paula Harris.
***
Winners of the Chicago Musical Theateer Award (cover) for "SOMETHING WONDERFUL" will participate in the finales of the concerts in both locations and are available to assist if needed.
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| ELIZABETH KLING, soprano |
Praised for her “delightful” (The Boston Globe) and
“delicately compassionate” (Times Herald Record) singing, soprano
Elizabeth Kling is recognized as a dynamic and versatile performer. In
her Carnegie Hall début, she created the title role of Lucy by Tom
Cipullo, and her performance was acclaimed as “excellent” (The Big
City). Other roles include Gretel (Hansel and Gretel), Jessie (Mahagonny
Songspiel), Áljana (A Little Princess), and Hope (Anything Goes).
Elizabeth has been a guest artist in song recitals at the University of
Colorado, Metropolitan State University of Denver, and Cal Poly Pomona.
She is a 2015 finalist in the G. Gershwin International Competition.
Elizabeth holds a DMA from The City University of New York Graduate
Center and a MM from New England Conservatory. She is Assistant
Professor of Music Theatre at Auburn University. www.elizabethkling.com
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| KAREN ARCHBOLD, mezzo-soprano |
Karen Archbold is poised to launch an exciting career
as a promising young singer. She studied at the Hochschule für Künste
in Bremen, Germany. She currently appears as a part of the Duo Striata,
a cello and voice ensemble focusing on new music. Karen has been a
member of the Washington Chorus, the Chicago Chorale, the Bremen
Kammerchor, and the Symphonic Chorus at the Hochschule für Künste in
Bremen. Karen has appeared as Miss Jessel in The Turn of the Screw,
Buttercup in HMS Pinafore as Buttercup and as Berthe in the Barber of
Seville. She has also participated in the opera choruses of Die
Zauberflöte and L’Enfant Sortilege at the Kennedy Center. Karen’s solo
appearances include Alto Soloist in Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, Soloist
in John Rutter’s Magnificat, Mezzo soloist in Lili Boulanger’s Psalm
Profundis, Alto soloist in the Verdi Requiem, and the Mahler
Kindertotenlieder with the MasterWorks Festival Orchestras.
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| CHRISTIAN KETTER, tenor |
Tenor, Christian Ketter, recently made his Carnegie
Hall debut with Marilyn Horne’s festival: “The Song Continues." 2013:
Tenor soloist, Bruckner Te Deum, Chicago Bar Symphony and Orchestra;
DuBois’ Les sept paroles du Christ; Saint-Saëns’ Oratorio de Noël. Willy
Loman: Rizzer’s Death of a Salesman, Chicago Cultural Center. 2011: Mr.
Ketter performed under Carlisle Floyd in a concert of Floyd's operatic
works. Evita (Che) Southwest Michigan Symphony Orchestra; Tosca
(Cavaradossi) Calumet City Chamber-Ensemble; Herrmann’s Wuthering
Heights (Edgar) in its televised Chicago premiere; ShowBoat (Ravenal).
2010: At Ravinia, Mr. Ketter gave a recital benefitting the Misericordia
Foundation.
2013: International-Finalist: Lotte Lenya
Competition. Friedrich Schorr/The American Prize winner;
National-Winner: Chicago Oratorio Award; 2nd National-Winner: Hal
Leonard Art Song; The American Prize in Art Song; Shirley Rabb-Winston
Grand Prize. For release summer 2014: Recording, "Beloved", a collection
of classical arrangements spanning many languages, styles, and
genres with violinist, Cara Schlecker and pianist, Myron Silberstein.
For more information visit: www.christianketter.com
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| DAN RICHARDSON, bass-baritone |
Bass-baritone Dan Richardson is known for his "clean,
clear, declarative" tone and "lovely core sound and earnest
musicianship." Recently, Mr. Richardson appeared as Elijah with Choral
Union in Mendelssohn's Elijah, Figaro in Le nozze di Figaro with the
Salt Creek Chamber Orchestra, as Papageno with Candid Concert Opera, and
performed with the New Millennium Orchestra as Death in Viktor
Ullmann's the Emperor of Atlantis on the Pritzker Pavilion Stage at
Millennium Park.
He has also performed with the Florentine Opera,
Opera Omaha, Opera Louisiane, Des Moines Metro Opera, the Cedar Rapids
Opera Theatre, Sarasota Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago, where he
performed the role of Don Bartolo for their “Opera in the Neighborhoods”
production of Rossini's The Barber of Seville. As a concert soloist Mr.
Richardson has performed with the Fox Valley Orchestra, Milwaukee
Symphony Orchestra, The Virginia Consort, the Milwaukee Ballet, Music by
the Lake, and the Grant Park Chorus.
***
Congratulations to these fine artists.
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