Acclaimed soprano for Classics in June
THE sixth annual Classics in June, a charity fund-raising concert organised by the Soroptimist International Club of Jamaica (Kingston), takes place on Sunday, June 20, at the University Chapel, the University of the West Indies,Mona.
The concert, which is being held under the patronage of wife of the governor general, Lady Patricia Allen, will feature outstanding local and overseas artistes, including internationally acclaimed soprano, Dr Elizabeth Graham, from the United States. A native of North Carolina, Dr Graham holds a bachelor’s degree from North Carolina School of the Arts and her master’s and doctorate degrees from Florida State University.
Graham has won prestigious competitions, including the Metropolitan Opera District and Regional Auditions, the Palm Beach Civic Opera Competition and the National Young Artiste’s Award. Most recently, she starred in and directed the Living Arts Production of Porgy and Bess, which toured on five continents including major cities in Europe, Japan and Australia. Graham has toured extensively, singing with such companies as the Houston Grand Opera, Seattle Opera, Virginia Opera, Charlotte Opera, and the Orlando Opera.
Other performers will include popular local favourite June Thompson-Lawson (mezzo-soprano) and upcoming musicians Joel George (piano), Ade Robinson (piano) and Mikhail Johnson (piano). Featured for the first time on Classics in June will be Florida-based vocalist Alexander Hardan, son of Jamaican Bianca Shoucair. Young Hardan began studying voice and violin at the age of seven, and in 2008, was accepted into the New World School of the Arts, for violin and voice, where he decided to pursue voice. He is currently a member of the New World School of the Arts Concert Choir and has performed at the Adrienne Arsht Performing Arts Centre and, the Gusman Cultural Arts Centre both in Miami, and in Washington DC on the White House lawn. Fifteen-year-old Hardan will demonstrate his talents in three areas — voice, the violin and the piano.
Funds raised from this year’s concert will focus on children at risk and will support the National Children’s Home and other Soroptimist charities.
The Soroptimist International Club (Kingston) is a volunteer service organisation for women in business, management and the professions.
