Jay Poff
Seraph Brass Quintet
Lessons and Carols
Andrew Willis
Elaine Alvarez
Lee University School of Music will welcome world-class vocalists, keyboardists, and ensembles for this year’s Performing Arts Series, beginning this October.
This series, chosen by a School of Music faculty committee, is designed to bring friends of the School of Music to perform and to offer masterclasses for Lee students.
The season will kick off on Friday, Oct. 26, with baritone Jay Poff presenting a showcase concert of Broadway and cabaret hits.
A Lee University alumnus, Mr. Poff carries over 25 years of church and community theatrical performance and has won four Huntsville Wings awards for his performances. During his time at Lee, Mr. Poff was involved in and toured with Lee Singers, and also performed with the Lee University Chorale and Lee’s Opera Theatre. Mr. Poff earned his bachelor’s degree in music business with minors in business administration and theology.
Lee University will welcome Seraph Brass Quintet on Nov. 6 for the second concert of the series.
Drawing from top female brass players from across the country, Seraph Brass captivates audiences with a diverse program that includes original transcriptions, well-known classics, and newly commissioned works. Seraph Brass has toured throughout the United States, Mexico, and Europe, and was the featured ensemble at the International Women’s Brass Conference.
On Dec. 13, The Lee University School of Music and School of Religion join together to present a service of Lessons and Carols, uniting biblical lessons relating to Christ’s birth with beautiful Christmas music.
The Performing Arts Series will continue on Jan. 22, 2019, with Andrew Willis, performing on fortepiano.
Mr. Willis performs in the U.S. and abroad on pianos of every era. At home in front of a piano or fortepiano, his performance at Lee will draw from the Bach Partitas, played on the Baroque fortepiano. Willis has appeared as soloist with such period-instrument chamber orchestras as the Atlanta Baroque Orchestra, the Apollo Ensemble, the Magnolia Baroque Festival, and the Philadelphia Classical Symphony.
On March 12, 2019, the series will conclude with Cuban-American soprano Elaine Alvarez.
Ms. Alvarez began her international opera career in 2007 with her soulful portrayal of Mimi in Puccini’s “La Bohème” at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Since then, Ms. Alvarez has gone on to perform in famed concert halls across the globe, including the Metropolitan Opera, Oper Frankfurt, Teatro Carlo Felice in Genoa, Virginia Opera, and Arizona Opera.
All concerts will begin at 7:30 p.m. and will be held on Lee’s campus.
Admission is free, but tickets are required due to limited seating and are available at showclix.com or at the Dixon Center Box Office, which is open one week before each concert.
For more information on the Performing Arts Series, contact the Lee University School of Music by calling 614-8240 or by email at music@leeuniversity.edu.