Six Vocal Soloists Featured in Beethoven Finale
CANTON, OHIO (April 14, 2015) – Three choruses combined into one, six vocal soloists and internationally acclaimed pianist André Watts join together for the Canton Symphony Orchestra’s final Beethoven Festival concert. The program for the concert on April 26 at 8:00pm at the Zimmermann Symphony Center (2331 17th Street NW) includes Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy and Symphony No. 9 “Ode to Joy”.
The rarely performed Choral Fantasy begins with solo piano, which will be performed by Watts, then the orchestra joins in, followed by the vocal soloists and full chorus. Symphony No. 9 employs the full orchestra and finishes with a climactic movement with the full chorus and Beethoven’s famous “Ode to Joy”. The full chorus consists of the Canton Symphony Chorus, University of Mount Union Concert Choir and Walsh University Chamber Singers. The vocal soloists are soprano Rachel Hall, soprano Maribeth Crawford, mezzo-soprano Kathryn Findlen, tenor Timothy Culver, baritone Britt Cooper, and bass Nathan Stark.
Soprano Rachel Hall was soloist with the CSO in 2014 on the Brahms Requiem. In 2014 she had her Lincoln Center debut as Gretel with the Little Orchestra Society and recently had performances with Annapolis Opera, Opera in the Heights, and Santa Fe Opera Apprentice Scenes Showcase. She holds Bachelor degrees in both Music Performance and Music Education from Appalachian State University in Boone, NC.
Assistant Professor of Music and Voice at Walsh University, soprano Maribeth Crawford has performed with Cincinnati Opera, Lebanon Symphony Orchestra, Bowling Green Symphony Orchestra and West Virginia Symphony Orchestra. She began her international singing career with Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music’s (CCM) I Solisti di Spoleto program in Spoleto, Italy. She holds both Doctorate and Master Degrees from CCM and a Bachelor Degree from Mississippi College in Clinton, MS.
In 2013, mezzo-soprano Kathryn Findlen sang Ken Frazelle’s autobiographical work “Songs in the Rearview Mirror” for its New York Premiere in Weill Hall at Carnegie Hall. Throughout her career, she has performed with Austin Lyric Opera, the Gilbert and Sullivan Society of Austin, Austin Symphony Orchestra, Texas Choral Consort and Austin Civic Chorus. Findlen serves as artistic director for the community chamber series Kaleidescope in Austin, Texas and is on the faculty of Southwestern University in Georgetown, Texas. She holds a Master of Music degree from University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Music degree from University of North Carolina School of the Arts.
Tenor Timothy Culver has performed with Atlanta Opera, Ann Arbor Symphony, Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, Cleveland Opera, Lyric Opera Cleveland and the Cleveland Orchestra. A frequent recitalist, oratorio and concert soloist, Culver sang in the U.S. premiere of Erwin Schulhoff’s H.M.S. Royal Oak with the Cleveland Chamber Symphony. Currently, Culver is an Associate Professor of Voice at the Hugh A. Glauser School of Music at Kent State University where he earned both his Bachelor and Master degrees.
Britt Cooper, baritone, is Director of Fine and Performing Arts and Director of Choral Activities at Walsh University where he directs the Walsh University Chorale and the Walsh Chamber Singers. Under his direction, the Chamber Singers have toured extensively throughout Ohio as well as Washington D.C., New York, Chicago and internationally to Italy and Canada. Cooper has sung with and studied under some of the most important conductors in American choral music including Robert Shaw and Joseph Flummerfelt. Also Director of the Canton Symphony Chorus, Cooper holds a Master degree in Choral Conducting from the University of Alabama and a Doctorate in Choral Conducting from the University of South Carolina.
For bass Nathan Stark, the 2014-15 season included performances with Opera San José, Atlanta Opera, Opera in the Heights and a recital at El Camino College in Torrance, CA. In past seasons, Stark has given recitals throughout the United States and Germany, a concert of American spirituals at the Great Wall of China, performances at the U. S. Colombian Embassy, U.S. French Embassy, the U.S. Austrian Embassy and the Washington National Cathedral. In 2005, he was the featured soloist at the nationally televised opening ceremonies for the Air Force One Exhibit at the Ronald Reagan Library. Stark holds degrees in opera performance from California State University, Long Beach and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Tickets for the concert start at $25. There are senior, student and group discounts available. Dress is casual and the concerts are appropriate for ages 8 and older. Tickets and a full schedule of Beethoven Festival events are available at www.cantonsymphony.org/beethoven-festival, by calling 330-452-2094, at the Zimmermann Symphony Center – 2331 17th Street NW in Canton – weekdays from 9am to 5pm or at the Umstattd Performing Arts Hall box office beginning one hour before the performances.
Founded in 1937, the Canton Symphony Orchestra is a fully professional ensemble and organization dedicated to performing concerts that enrich, educate and entertain. Under the direction of Gerhardt Zimmermann, the orchestra performs classical, pops, holiday, and educational programs. Most performances are in Umstattd Performing Arts Hall, 2323 17th Street NW, Canton, Ohio (at McKinley High School adjacent to the Zimmermann Symphony Center). Parking at the Center is free. For more information, please visit www.CantonSymphony.org.
