Lift Every Voice! A musical celebration

Presented by Opera Fusion

Join us on FACEBOOK LIVE for a musical celebration of the rich traditions of Black singers and song.

Two of South Florida’s finest classical performers, Kyaunnee Richardson, soprano, and Neil Nelson, bass-baritone, will bring depth, meaning and joy to some of their favorite songs and duets. Both Kyaunnee and Neil have been praised by local reviewers, Neil as “first rate” and “irresistible” in his portrayal of Porgy in Porgy and Bess and Kyaunnee “makes us proud” as Clara in the same production at the Arsht and Broward centers in 2019. Pianist Gordon Roberts, a favorite collaborator with Opera Fusion, will accompany these fine artists in a program you will love.

Kyaunnee Richardson, soprano, made her professional debut as Papagena in Mozart’s The Magic Flute with Festival of the Arts Boca in 2016. Opera Orlando is currently streaming her recent, critically acclaimed performance of Adele in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Credits from the last several seasons include singing the role of Clara in Porgy and Bess at the Broward and Arsht centers with the South Florida Symphony, Esther in the concert premiere of Ginsberg’s Esther, Sweet Esther at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.; Pamina in The Magic Flute with Orchestra Miami; and Najade in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos, Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto and Nella in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi with Opera Fusion’s  Emerging Artists Project. She is a frequent soloist with many Florida orchestras and ensembles. She earned her Bachelor of Music from New World School and her MM in vocal performance from Florida State University. Kyaunnee counts among her highest honors singing for President Barack Obama and other dignitaries at the funeral of South Carolina Sen. the Rev. Clementa Pinckney. 

Colleagues and critics alike say Neil Nelson has one of the purest and most resonant bass baritone voices of recent times. Last season he made his debut as Porgy in Porgy and Bess with South Florida Symphony. He has performed operatic roles with Boston Lyric Opera, Boston Symphony Orchestra, Palm Beach Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis, Berkshire Opera, Orlando Opera, The New York Harlem Opera Theater and the Tartar State Opera Theater in Kazan, Russia. His versatile repertoire includes such roles as Conte di Luna in Il Trovatore with Winter Opera St. Louis; Scarpia in Tosca, Hagen in Götterdämmerung and Leporello in Don Giovanni with Union Avenue Opera; Sulpice in La Fille du Regiment with Palm Beach Opera; and Pirate King in The Pirates of Penzance with Opera Theatre of St. Louis. Although opera is his first love, he has a passion for oratorio and concert stage, and has appeared as a soloist with ensembles such as Lynn Conservatory Orchestra, Ocean City Pops, Southwest Florida Symphony and New England Conservatory Orchestra. Moving to New York at age 2 from Jamaica, where he was born, Neil earned a degree in music performance at The New England Conservatory of Music and was a finalist in the New York Metropolitan Opera Auditions. Awards include the Stephen Shrestinian Award for Excellence (Boston Lyric Opera) and the Heinz Refuss Singing Actors Award (Orlando Opera).

Gordon James Roberts has a Bachelor of Science Degree in Music Education from Wilkes University in Pennsylvania, and Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees from The Juilliard School in New York City.    As a conductor, pianist, organist, composer, arranger, orchestrator, lecturer and teacher, his talents encompass a wide range. While at Juilliard he was part of the Lincoln Center Program, touring and giving many solo concerts in piano and conducting, working with orchestras around the United States and Canada. He was a winner of the National Baldwin Recording Competition and performed world wide as accompanist for the internationally renowned mezzo-soprano, Jennie Tourel.

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