UPDATE: REFLECTING ON LEXINGTON PHILHARMONIC’S PERFORMANCE OF THE QUEENIE PIE SUITE
April 11, 2022
On April 9th, the Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra, in partnership with soloists, alumni, and friends from University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, premiered my Orchestral Suite from the Opera Queenie Pie, and they rocked it!
The Suite, commissioned by LexPhil with generous support from the Garbulinska Initiative and the Saykaly Garbulinska Composer-in-Residence Funds, served as the finale of a Queen-themed program, which explored how Queens have inspired composers.
I'd like to thank:
Kelly Corcoran and Dr. Everett McCorvey for approaching me to arrange the Suite;
the University of Kentucky Opera Theatre for training such amazing talent;
Jeryl Cunningham for her wonderful portrayal of Queenie Pie and incredible vocal gymnastics;
Erica Gabriel for her improvisatory interpretations while singing Cafe O'lay;
Sam McKelton, not only for his convincingly conveying the pieces musical narrator, but for his wonderful stage direction and the idea to couch the presentation as an evening at Duke's place;
Michael Preacely for his gorgeous voice...his beautiful lows and soaring highs;
Tong Chen for both her bi-lingual confidence and interpretation of a jazz-based orchestral score and her deft negotiation of varying musical voices and personalities that make up a world-renowned orchestra;
Keith Mccutchen --and all ten of his fingers--for his glorious personification of the Duke.
Allison Kaiser, the orchestra's Executive Director for her leadership;
the orchestra's Director of Artistic Operations, Sarah Phoebe Thrall who did the job of five people and without whom, nothing would get done;
Seth Murphy, the orchestra's Production Associate Manager, for his commitment to a seemless integration and presentation of creative ideas;
Tanya Harper, for her gorgeous lighting design;
the members of the orchestra. Your dedication to the score came through in brilliant form. I appreciate you all tremendously.
Lexington Philharmonic Orchestra
Program: Queens Rule
Orchestral Suite from the Opera Queenie Pie, Duke Ellington (arr. Marc T. Gaspard Bolin)
*Lexington Philharmonic’s commissioned arrangement
Soloists:
Eric Brown, baritone
Angelique Clay, soprano
Jeryl Cunningham-Fleming, soprano
Erica Gabriel, mezzo-soprano
Sarah Klopfenstein, mezzo-soprano
Samuel McKelton, tenor
Michael Preacely, baritone
Houston Tyrrell, tenor
Tong Chen, Conductor
This program was presented in partnership with University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, Dr. Everett McCorvey, Director.