Across The Arts With Patrick D. Mccoy

Charles Dean Dixon, conductor, was born January 10, 1915 in New York, New York to West Indian parents Henry Charles Dixon and McClara Rolston Dixon. Dixon’s parents exposed him to classical music at an early age and his mother taught him to play the violin, along with a number of other instruments. By the age of nine he was considered a musical prodigy and performed on local radio stations in New York. Dixon enrolled at Juilliard School of Music in 1932 as a violin major, but soon switched to the music pedagogy program and graduated in 1936. He then enrolled in Columbia University and earned a Master’s Degree in Music Pedagogy there in 1939.   While at Julliard Dixon discovered conducting and upon graduating he formed the “Dean Dixon Symphony Orchestra,” the first racially integrated group of its type in New York City.  Dixon finally returned to the United States in 1970 after his hugely successful career in Europe and Australia.  

Winner of the 2018 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award by the U.S Solti Foundation, German based American conductor, Roderick Cox, has been praised as a conductor who is “paving the way” (NBC News) and recognized as a “trailblazer…a conductor who will be amongst the vanguard” (Minnesota StarTribune). Cox has gained international attention for recent appearances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Grand Opera, and Philharmonia Orchestra (London).  Highlights and debuts in the 19/20 season include concerts with Orchestre de Paris, Dresdner Philharmonie, Kristiansand Symfoniorkester, Mannheim Staatsorchester, and Iceland Symphony Orchestra. In the US, Roderick will debut with the New York Philharmonic for the New York Philharmonic’s Young Peoples Concerts Series, the Aspen Music Festival Chamber Orchestra, Richmond Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, the Sphinx Symphony Orchestra, New Jersey Symphony and San Antonio Symphony.  Highlights among recent engagements as a gues

American soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme’s astonishing range of concert literature includes Strauss' Four Last Songs (Reading, Baltimore, Syracuse, Harrisburg and Utah Symphonies; Florida Orchestra, Fort Wayne Philharmonic; Grand Teton and Texas Music Festivals); Philip Glass' Passion of Ramakrishna (Pacific Symphony); Mahler's Second Symphony (San Diego, Baltimore, Nashville, Cincinnati, Colorado and Pacific Symphonies; Rome's Santa Cecilia Orchestra); Haydn's Die Schöpfung (Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati Symphonies); Mendelssohn’s Lobgesang Symphony (San Diego Symphony),  Lokumbe's Dear Mrs. Parks (Detroit Symphony) and Can You Hear God Crying? (Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia); the Brahms Requiem (San Diego, Baltimore, Colorado Symphonies); Mahler's Eighth Symphony (Milwaukee, Grand Rapids, American and Montreal Symphonies); Beethoven #9 (Cleveland Orchestra, New Jersey and Houston Symphonies), Barber's Knoxville:  Summer of 1915 (Festival Miami, Baltimore Symphony), Tippett’s A Child of Our Time (Dall

Praised for his "commanding stage presence" and "rich, resonant bass," Kenneth Kellogg is quickly gaining recognition as a sought after young artist.  Born and raised in Washington, D.C, music has been a part of his life since grade school. Nurtured in the public school system by amazing music teachers, he participated in choirs throughout the city and began formal training at the Duke Ellington School of the Performing and Visual Arts as a Vocal and Visual Arts student.  Among his roles, many are staples of opera repertoire:  The title role, in Mozart’s Don Giovanni,  as well as Leporello and  Il Commendatore,  Mephistopheles in Gounod’s Faust, Don Alfonso in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte, Ramfis and Il Re in Verdi’s Aida, Colline in Puccini’s La Boheme, the title role of Handel’s Hercules, The King in Handel’s Ariodante, Osmin in Mozart’s Die Entführung aus dem Serail, Sarastro and the Speaker in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte, Sparafucile in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Fasolt in Wagner’s Das Rheingold. He led the cast in the w

Kenneth Overton is lauded for blending his opulent baritone with magnetic and varied portrayals that seemingly “emanate from deep within body and soul.” Raised in Philadelphia, Kenneth Overton’s symphonious baritone voicehas sent him around the globe. Kenneth is one of the most sought after Opera singers of his generation, and successfully started his season with a return to The New York City Opera performing the role of Jake Wallace in Puccini's La Fanciulla del West . Shortly thereafter, he returned to the San Francisco Opera in "the most eagerly anticipated new opera of the season" (The New York Times, 2017); the world premier of John Adams’The Girls of the Golden West, as the cover for the role of Ned Peters. Additionally, Kenneth thrived in his Hungarian debut as Porgy in the Margaret Island Open Air Theatre’s production of Porgy and Bess where he was heralded as one of “America’s most renowned Opera singers”.  

Damien Sneed is a multi-genre recording artist and a 2014 recipient of the prestigious Sphinx Medal of Excellence honor, which is presented annually to emerging Black and Latino leaders in classical music, Sneed has also garnered attention in a wide range of other musical genres, including jazz, gospel, pop, R&B and musical theatre. He has already been featured in the New York Times multiple times for his work in various genres. A pianist, organist, conductor, composer, producer, arranger, vocal coach, professor and arts educator.  Today, he joins us to chat about his career and esteemed collaborations with the late soprano Jessye Norman.  

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With an operatic career rising to stratospheric heights, star mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges takes a moment out of her run as Delilah in Washington National Opera's current production of Camille Saint-Saëns grand opera "Samson and Delilah."  Marking her debut with the company, Bridges drops in on THE OPERA DIVA SERIES to chat about her career, future appearances, her love for basketball and much more.  Past guests of the series include Christine Brewer, Leona Mitchell, Nicole Cabell, Denyce Graves, Othalie Graham, Lisette Oropesa, Elizabeth Futral, Angela M. Brown and Carmen Balthrop among others.

  Ahead of her holiday performances December 15-24 with The Choral Arts Society of Washington conducted by artistic director Scott Tucker, mezzo-soprano Kristina Lewis drops in on The Conversation Series to chat about her love of the holiday season, her musical career and much more.  Internationally-acclaimed mezzo-soprano, Kristina Nicole Lewis, has had major success throughout the United States and abroad.  Tony Solitro, of Philadelphia Local Arts Live, noted “I simply couldn’t get enough of Ms. Lewis’ expressively warm voice, or her enchanting stage presence.” She has also been herald by the Baltimore Sun for having a voice “that shines with a burnished tone,” “has considerable lushness in her singing,” as well as “admirable acting”, along with Eldridge McPhee, of the Bahama Bel Canto Singers, who commended Miss Lewis for having, “A voice enters the soul and moves the spirit.”  liana in Algeri, the Countess in Tchaikovsky’s Queen of Spades, Flora in Verdi’s La Traviata, Baba the Turk in Stravinsky’s The R

  Todays guest is an important voice in the world of classical music.  Currently the Chief Classical Music Critic for The Washington Post,  Anne Midgette is a graduate of Yale University. Over her career, she has reviewed opera, music, and art throughout Europe for The Wall Street Journal, Opera News, and other publications. Returning to the United States, she became the first woman to review classical music for The New York Times on a regular basis in 2001. She continued as a classical music critic, theater critic, and arts writer for the newspaper from 2001 to 2007. In 2008, Midgette landed at The Washington Post as the newspaper's chief classical music critic.  In this episode, Midgette reflects on her career as music critic and her decision to leave her position at The Washington Post and her plans for the future.  

Soprano Lisette Oropesa was recently named as the winner of the 2019 Richard Tucker Award. She stars in  major productions around the world and has garnered acclaim in several prestigious debuts including in the title role of Lucia di Lammermoor at the Teatro Real Madrid and Royal Opera House.  Past winners include such luminaries as Stephanie Blythe, Lawrence Brownlee, Joyce DiDonato, Renée Fleming, Christine Goerke, Matthew Polenzani, and Deborah Voigt. Oropesa was inducted into this who’s who of American opera at the foundation’s annual gala on Sunday, October 27, at Carnegie Hall.  She chats with host Patrick D. McCoy about her career, winning the award and her upcoming appearance in DC with Washington Concert Opera in their performance of "Hamlet" by Ambroise Thomas on Sunday, November 24 at George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium.

Christopher Bell will lead the Washington Chorus in a performance of Mozart's timeless Requiem at The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts on November 16. He chats with Across the Arts host Patrick D. McCoy about the performance and his career as a conductor both in the US and abroad.

Internationally acclaimed tenor and opera star Lawrence Brownlee returns to "Across the Arts" with Washington, D.C. based arts columnist Patrick D. McCoy about his upcoming performance with Washington Concert Opera in Rossini's "Zelmira" and his recital under the auspices of Vocal Arts DC.  Previously, Brownlee chatted McCoy on THE I TOO SING AMERICA SERIES and was previously featured in Washington Life Magazine's "Perfect Pitch."  Named 2017 “Male Singer of the Year” by both the International Opera Awards and Bachtrack, American-born tenor Lawrence Brownlee has been hailed by The Guardian as “one of the world’s leading bel canto stars.”

Stanley J. Thurston is one of Washington's beloved musical figures.  Whether he is standing in front of The Heritage Signature Chorale or on the stage of The Kennedy Center, his demand for excellence shines through.  Thurston joins The Maestro Series to discuss his role as founding conductor of The Heritage Signature Chorale and its upcoming concert.  The concert will feature Poulenc's "Gloria" and Darin Atwater's "Proclamations."  We will also delve into his extensive career as a conductor and perhaps upcoming projects.

Soprano Kristin Lewis has graced the stages of many of the world’s leading opera houses. Noted for her wellfocused, majestic sound, rich in overtones and possessing a rare blend of piano culture and flourishing emphasis, she has been directed by among the most illustrious conductors.  A native of Little Rock, Arkansas/USA, Ms. Lewis grew up in a musical family, and began singing and performing at an early age. She received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Central Arkansas under the guidance of Dr. Martha Antolik and a Masters of Music degree while studying with Kay Paschal and Andrew Wentzel, from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville. Post graduate study was endeavored under the tutelage of Dr. Jonathan Retzlaff, and currently with Carol Byers.  A recipient of many honors, Ms. Lewis was awarded the College of Arts and Sciences Divisional Achievement Award for the Visual and Performing Arts from the University of Tennessee at Knoxville in 2015; the Orazio Tosi Prize 2012, given by the Club

After an extensive round of auditions and interviews for the revered post as artistic director of The Washington Bach Consort, Dana Marsh was named the new director, succeeding the late Dr. J. Reilly Lewis, who founded the consort in 1977.  Lewis died unexpectedly in June 2016.  His remarkable artistry will long be remembered, treasured and felt.  Art journalist Patrick D. McCoy chats with Dr. Dana Marsh about his new post, the upcoming season with The Washington Bach Consort, finding academic balance with his post at Indiana University and his vision for the consort. As director of the Historical Performance Institute and chair of the Early Music Department at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, Dana Marsh has directed a broad range of ensemble performances and NPR broadcasts at Jacobs since 2014. He coaches aspiring vocalists in historical performance and teaches early notation and performance practice. As an academic, Marsh was invited to be a panelist at the Smithsonian Institution’s conferenc

In repertoire encompassing George Frideric Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto to Jonathan Dove’s Flight and beyond, countertenor John Holiday’s expressive and richly beautiful voice has made him an increasingly sought after artist, possessing a “vocal instrument that threatens to equal the name artists in his range.” (Herald Times) Mr. Holiday is the recipient of the Marian Anderson Award from The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and Washington National Opera. As an advocate of new works, John Holiday will make his debut with Opera Philadelphia singing the role of John Blue in a world-premiere of Daniel Roumain's We Shall Not Be Moved, a production directed by the award-winning Bill T. Jones that will also be seen at the Apollo Theater in New York and Hackney Empire in London. Also in the 2017-2018 season, Mr. Holiday will debut at Florida Grand Opera as Orfeo in Gluck’s Orfeo ed Euridice and his debut in Flight as the Refugee at Des Moines Metro Opera. 

  ABOUT THE JUNE 2 AT THE MUSIC CENTER AT STRATHMORE CONCERT:   CLICK HERE  ABOUT MICHELE: Michele Fowlin serves as music director of the Washington Performing Arts Society’s Children of the Gospel Choir. She attended Howard University and earned her bachelor’s and master’s degree in vocal performance/pedagogy with a piano minor. While at Howard, she studied with renowned opera singers Regina McConnell, Carmen Balthrop, and Charlotte Holloman. Under the tutelage of Dr. James Weldon Norris, she was introduced to conducting. Fowlin eventually became assistant to the conductor for the University Choirs. Upon traveling with the choir nationally and internationally, Fowlin conducted many concerts and eventually became one of the lead soloists. These opportunities led her to performances in Russia, England, Spain, and the US Virgin Islands.  After Howard, Fowlin continued her vocal career while expanding her skills as a music teacher in the public school system. Her desire to motivate students musically has ext

A listen in at the internationally acclaimed soprano's new holiday album just in time for the holiday. The recording is available at Amazon.com and CD Baby.

Across the arts takes a listen to soprano Angela Brown's new Christmas album "This Christmas."  No stranger to THE OPERA DIVA SERIES, the internationally acclaimed soprano shares her myriad of musical experiences in this fresh take on Christmas carols and holiday favorites.  Turn the speakers up and continue the holiday celebration!