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DEVON CASS the Greater Omaha Chamber of Commerce , the Charles Drew Health Center ( Omaha ), the Center Against Spouse Abuse in Tampa Bay and the Museum of Fine Arts , as well as the Academy Preparatory Center , both in St . Petersburg , FL . Currently , he serves as Chairman of the Board for the Raymond James Charitable Endowment Fund and as national ambassador for the nonprofit World Pediatric Project , headquartered in Richmond , VA , which provides children throughout Central America and the Caribbean with critical surgical and diagnostic care .
A native of Norfolk , VA , Thomas Wilkins is a graduate of the Shenandoah Conservatory of Music and the New England Conservatory of Music in Boston . He resides with his wife Sheri-Lee in Florida . They are the proud parents of twin daughters , Erica and Nicole .
Thomas Wilkins last appeared with the BSO in February 2006 , conducting " A Night in Havana ."
Alison Buchanan
Praised for her musical versatility , her luscious voice and her ability to communicate with an audience , British soprano Alison Buchanan is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music in London and the Curtis Institute in Philadelphia . Buchanan is the winner of the Kathleen Ferrier , the Luciano Pavarotti , the Washington International and the Maggie Teyte competitions .
As a young artist with San Francisco Opera , Buchanan made her debut with the company as Mimi in La bohème during her time in the Adler Fellowship Program . She was invited to the L . A . Opera to sing Nedda in Pagliacci , working with Placido Domingo and Franco Zeffirelli . Buchanan has performed with New York City Opera as Bess in Porgy and Bess and as Elvira in Don Giovanni with Opera Philadelphia , Michigan Opera and Wexford Opera . She has performed under the batons of Sir Colin Davis , Sir Simon Rattle , David
Robertson and Donald Runnicles , among others , and with orchestras such as the Royal and Philippines philharmonics ; the London , BBC and Boston symphony orchestras ; and the Israel Kibbutz Orchestra .
In recent seasons , Buchanan made her Carnegie Hall debut ; returned to New York City Opera for Margaret Garner , an opera by Richard Danielpour and Toni Morrison ; performed at Sadler ’ s Wells Theatre in London for Pegasus Opera in Koanga by Frederick Delius ; joined Sir Colin Davis and the London Symphony Orchestra for performances and a recording of Britten ’ s Peter Grimes ; and gave recitals in Madison ( GA ), Oakland ( CA ), Jacksonville ( FL ), Montenegro and Gibraltar . Buchanan made her debut singing the role of Tosca at the Festival de Sédières in France and performed at the Tanglewood and Ravinia festivals . In addition , she joined the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra for Porgy and Bess , conducted by Marin Alsop , and made her Linbury Studio Theatre debut at the Royal Opera House in the opera YES , composed by Errollyn Wallen , returning for the ROH2 initiative Exposure Opera , championing the works of emerging opera composers .
More recently , Buchanan joined Alsop for performances in Brazil with the São Paulo Symphony Orchestra ;
returned to the Boston Symphony Orchestra to perform in Porgy and Bess ; gave recitals in St . Louis , Washington , D . C . and Jacksonville ; performed the role of Janthe in Der Vampyr with the American Symphony Orchestra at Carnegie Hall ; performed concerts with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra ; and gave a recital at National Sawdust in Brooklyn . Buchanan recently released a recording of the songs of Dr . George Walker , accompanied by the composer , for Albany records ; sang Barber ’ s Knoxville Summer 1915 at the Kennedy Center with the Apollo Orchestra ; and joined members of the Boston Symphony Orchestra , the New York Philharmonic and the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra for the Classical Pops Festival in Barbados .
Alison Buchanan last appeared with the BSO in July 2010 , performing Porgy and Bess : in Concert , Marin Alsop , conductor .
The Baltimore School for the Arts Chorus
The Baltimore School for the Arts Chorus has been wowing audiences with its sublime , passionate music since its founding in 1980 . Under the baton of conductor Dr . Mark Hardy , the BSA Chorus has performed with leading institutions such as the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra , the Baltimore Lyric
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