4 minute read
THE TEXAS TENORS
Recent 2022 Texas Country Music Hall of Fame Inductees, The Texas Tenors, are considered one of the most successful music groups and third highest selling artists in the history of America’s Got Talent! Since appearing on the series in 2009, JC, Marcus and John have released 5 studio albums, 2 PBS Specials, 4 DVDs, multiple singles and a children’s book that have earned them impressive recognition including 3 Emmy Awards, The Gelett Burgess Award for Excellence in Children’s Literature and the distinction of being Billboard Magazine’s #10 Classical Artist in the World. The tenors most recent albums “Outside the Lines”, “Rise” and “A Collection of Broadway and American Classics” all debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts.
These classically trained, versatile tenors have performed more than 1700 concerts around the world including headline shows in Las Vegas, China and a 24-city tour of the United Kingdom.
The Texas Tenors’ concerts appeal to all ages and have been wildly successful from performing arts centers, casinos and symphony halls to outdoor festivals and corporate events. In addition to collaborations with some of the most prestigious symphonies in the world including the Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony and The City of Prague Orchestra, The Texas Tenors have performed at The White House National Tree Lighting, Congressional Medal of Honor Ceremonies, numerous charity events, NBA games and The PBR World Finals in Las Vegas.
Recently they were honored to be included among the top 50 acts in the world and the only vocal group from the United States invited to appear on NBC’s America’s Got Talent: The Champions.
JC FISHER
JC has entertained audiences around the world for the past 15 years. In high school, he had a passion for sports and also enjoyed singing in church. He discovered a deeper love for singing at Wichita State University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Music. JC performed various roles including Rodolfo in La Boheme, Tamino in The Magic Flute, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Henrick in A Little Night Music and even Miss America’s duet partner at the 1997 Miss Kansas Pageant. After college, JC traveled to Lucca, Italy where he sang in the Puccini festival under the direction of acclaimed Italian maestro Lorenzo Malfatti. He then created a home base in Katy, TX before sailing the high seas aboard more than 75 cruise ships worldwide as a guest entertainer. This allowed JC to create a show featuring many different genres of music and world class arrangements, which eventually led to his idea of forming The Texas Tenors. After many years of traveling and concerts, his most memorable performance is still one from college where he found his future wife and mother of their 3 beautiful children.
John Hagen
John has been described as, “astonishing, a superb tenor of deep musicality.” He made his Lincoln Center debut in New York City in Teatro Grattacielo’s mounting of Mascagni’s Gulglielmo Ratcliff. Mr. Hagen created 3 tenor roles in the world premier of The Lost Dauphane for Pamiro Opera airing on PBS. He has performed a vast array of operatic roles ranging from Alfredo in La Traviata, to the title role of Otello for Cleveland Opera on tour. Mr. Hagen is highly regarded for his performances of the Verdi Requiem and Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, having performed these works with more than a dozen symphonies across the United States. He has received many awards throughout his career including finalist in the New Jersey Opera Association of Verismo Opera competition held at Carnegie Hall, Metropolitan Opera Auditions Regional Finalist, and winner of numerous other competitions
Marcus Collins
Marcus was born in a small town and began performing at the age of 4. He first learned how to sing by emulating his favorite artists like Garth Brooks, George Michael and Freddie Mercury before training classically in college. Marcus has performed throughout the world on cruise ships and numerous stage productions including a performance in Times Square with the Broadway cast of Hairspray and Off-Broadway’s Altar Boyz as Matthew. Beyond music he has worked extensively as an actor with appearances in more than 100 episodes of network television and 25 films including P.S. I Love You, Semi-Pro, Delirious, 30 Rock, Sex and the City, recurring roles on One Life To Live and As The World Turns, and a Guest VJ on MTV.
Music, to me personally, is the ultimate reflection of the inner feelings of the composer put into sounds. This season we will take you on a journey through multiple composers where you will experience an array of sounds and feelings. The canvas of each composer is literally alive ... we experience different instruments dominating the texture, from a single piano or guitar to the full Symphony Orchestra.
What is greatness? Does this even exist in our times of “Speaking MY truth?” Beethoven spoke HIS truth by zoning in to the essence of an idea and then sticking with it. A master artist creating an architecture of sound and pure energy.
The first movement of his Symphony No. 7 is based on a one-note rhythmical pattern. Celebrating the individual heart beat coming straight out of the French Revolution. The second movement is a goodbye to the 18th century, welcoming the 19th century. And what a welcome it is in the fourth movement. Full speed ahead.
So, what is greatness? A performer’s greatness comes with his or her ability of deep concentration, being in the zone. Open to possibilities in this very moment. That’s what I experienced with Joshua Bell a few years ago. Authentic obsession to detail, full ownership and then being in the moment, creating anew.
ALEXANDER MICKELTHWATE, CONDUCTOR
MENDELSSOHN ............ Violin Concerto in E minor, Op. 64
Allegro molto appassionato
Andante
Allegretto ma non troppo—Allegro molto vivace
(The movements are played without pauses between.)
Joshua Bell, violin
BEETHOVEN ................. Symphony No. 7 in A major, Op. 92
Poco sostenuto—Vivace
Allegretto
Presto
Allegro con brio
This concert is performed without an intermission
THIS CONCERT IS GENEROUSLY SPONSORED BY:
