Overture Magazine 2019-20 BSO_Overture_Jan Feb | Page 34

ARETHA—A TRIBUTE About the Artists Lucas Waldin Lucas Waldin is a dynamic and versatile conductor whose performances have delighted audiences across North America. He has collaborated with some of today’s most exciting artists including Carly Rae Jepsen, Ben Folds, Canadian Brass and Buffy Sainte-Marie, as well as conducting presentations such as Disney in Concert, Blue Planet Live, Cirque de la Symphony and the symphonic debut of R&B duo Dvsn as part of the global Red Bull Music Festival. Waldin has conducted throughout the U.S. and Canada, including the Houston Symphony; the Dallas, Grant Park, Modesto, Vancouver and Toronto symphony orchestras; and the Louisiana and Calgary philharmonic orchestras. Having joined the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra (ESO) as Resident Conductor in 2009, Waldin was subsequently appointed Artist-in- Residence and Community Ambassador. He appeared with the ESO over 150 times and conducted in Carnegie Hall during the orchestra’s participation in the 2012 Spring for Music Festival. In recognition of his accomplishments, he was awarded the Jean-Marie Beaudet Award in Orchestral Conducting and received a Citation Award from the City of Edmonton for outstanding achievements in arts and culture. A native of Toronto, Canada, Waldin holds degrees in flute and conducting from the Cleveland Institute of Music. Lucas Waldin makes his BSO debut. Capathia Jenkins The Brooklyn-born singer Capathia Jenkins most recently released the critically acclaimed album Phenomenal Woman: The Maya Angelou Songs and Songs Without Words with Louis Rosen. They then sold out the 32 OV E R T U R E / BSOmusic.org world-famous Birdland Jazz Club in New York City for 3 nights. Jenkins starred as Medda in the hit Disney production of Newsies on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in The Civil War, where she created the role of Harriet Jackson. She then starred in the Off-Broadway 2000 revival of Godspell, where she wowed audiences with her stirring rendition of “Turn Back, O Man.” She returned to Broadway in The Look of Love and then created the roles of The Washing Machine in Caroline, Or Change and Frieda May in Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me. In 2007 she starred in (mis)Understanding Mammy: The Hattie McDaniel Story, for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. She was also seen in Nora Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I Wore. Jenkins has appeared with the Cleveland, Minnesota and Cincinnati Pops orchestras; the Houston, Seattle, Utah and San Diego symphonies; the Pittsburgh, National, Atlanta and Toronto symphony orchestras; the Philly Pops; and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. She was a soloist with the Festival Český Krumlov in the Czech Republic and had the great honor of performing in the Broadway Ambassadors to Cuba concert as part of the Festival de Teatro de La Habana. She has appeared several times at Carnegie Hall with the New York Pops and sang in a Tribute to Marvin Hamlisch at the Library of Congress. Her television credits include 30 Rock, The Practice, Law & Order SVU, The Sopranos and Law & Order. She can be seen in the film Musical Chairs, directed by Susan Seidelman. Jenkins can be heard on the soundtracks of Nine, Chicago and Legally Blonde 2: Red, White & Blonde Capathia Jenkins makes her BSO debut. Darryl Jovan Williams Darryl Jovan Williams is a native of South Carolina. He began his career as a vocalist in the local churches of Jasper County and played piano in churches at the age of 11. Williams began his professional stage career in such shows as Singin’ in the Rain; A Chorus Line; Ain’t Misbehavin’; Dreamgirls; the 40 th anniversary celebration of The Wiz in Central Park; and Babes in Arms and has performed in Off-Broadway shows such as Mama, I Want to Sing!; Sweet Mama Stringbean, for which he earned an AUDELCO award nomination; All Night Strut!; The Meeting; and Once On This Island. Williams is the Gold Medalist of the Americans Traditions Savannah Onstage International Soloist Competition, which earned him the opportunity to sing for the Yachting Event of the 1996 Summer Olympics. Williams was invited by Michael Brenner to perform as choir director and guest soloist for the European Tour of Queen Esther Marrow and the Harlem Gospel Singers. His vocal prowess gained him rave reviews and provided him the opportunity to perform for Pope John Paul II. He has also toured in the Broadway hit Smokey Joe’s Cafe with Gladys Knight and was a fixture at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas, NV. Williams was recently the co-music arranger and vocal arranger for Andrew Lloyd Webber. He was also the vocal arranger for the much-anticipated hit Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel. Williams was most recently seen as the lead in Passing Strange and in a one-man show written for him by Broadway legend Timothy Graphenreed. Darryl Williams makes his BSO debut.