posted 03/08/11 09:07 PM | updated 03/08/11 09:07 PM
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James Martin, Baritone, Performs "Porgy and Bess" at St. Thomas Church March 18th & 19th

James Martin, baritone, who thrilled audiences here last year with his powerful voice in Gospel concerts, will be performing music from "Porgy and Bess" on March 18th and 19th.  James is a graudate of Julliard, where he performed as a Young Artist with the Julliard Opera Center.  He is presently an Instructor of Voice at Millsaps College in Jackson, Mississippi.

James' repertoire spans from Bach to be-bop, Busconi to Burleigh, and Berg to Bernstein.  His name is synonymous with such roles as Marcello (LaBoheme), Escamillo & Dancaire (Carmen), Silvio (I Pagliacci), Betto (Gianni Schicchi), Pistola (Falstaff), Quixote (Man of La Mancha), Joe (Show Boat), Pirate King (Pirates of Penzance), Billy Flynn (Chicago), and countless other roles.  His oratorio and concert repertoire include Handel's Messiah, Bach's Passions and cantatas, and the requiems of Brahms, Faure and Mozart.

He has performed with opera companies in Chicago, Santa Fe, St. Louis, Toronto, Strasbourg, Basel and Oslo, and with music festivals of Marlboro, Ravinia, Aspen, Moab, Colmar and Tel Aviv, the Carnegie Hall Honor! Festival, Caramoor, and Lincoln Center's African-American History and American Songbook series.

James performed recently at Merkin Hall in The New York Festival of Song, and participated in a 13-segment radio series, "No Song Is Safe From Us!", produced by Chicago's WFMT Network, and which was hosted by Frederica von Stade

His schedule this season includes Mahler's "Songs of the Wayfarer" with the Mississippi Symphony Orchestra, as well as concert appearances, master classes and recitals in Washington, D.C., Virginia, North Carolina, New York, Illinois and Sun Valley.  James has served as voice faculty and artistic consultant for St. Thomas Summer Performing Arts Conservatory Camp, and for Camp Wisdom, a summer enrichment camp for children in Jackson.  He is a founding member of the New York Festival of Song Artists Council.  James makes his home in Jackson, Mississippi, where he is Director of the Millsaps Lyric Opera Theater.

James will be accompanied for these concerts by the brilliant soprano, Tessika McClendon, and by pianist David Osteen.

A concert "Not To Be Missed!", the schedule is: Friday, March 18th at 8:00 PM, and Saturday, March 19th at 2:00 PM.  Both concerts will be at St. Thomas Episcopal Church on Sun Valley Road.  Tickets are $25 each and are available at Ketchum Book Stores and St. Thomas Church, 726-5349.

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