July 4, 2020

-Project Accompanist-

Kim Barroso studied at Temple University with Dr. Eugene Barban, Harvey Wedeen, and Lambert Orkis. He directs music liturgy and conducts the choir at St. Augustines Church in Old City, Philadelphia. Highly sought in the Delaware Valley region, Barroso performs more than ten recitals and concerts each semester. He also performs as soloist with local orchestras such as the Ambler Symphony, Orchestra Society of Philadelphia, and Olney Symphony, and has performed at venues such as Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall and the Mann Center for the Performing Arts.

He has a B.M. from Winthrop University  and a M.M.: Piano Performance and Piano Chamber Music Accompanying, Temple University.

Visit - https://www.temple.edu/boyer/about/people/kimbarroso.asp

"Lift Every Voice and Sing"

A North Philadelphia-born soul-jazz and hip-hop/funk innovator and trombone virtuoso, Jeff Bradshaw spent his formative years honing his chops alongside some of the biggest names both in and out of the Philly soul movement. By the time he got around to releasing his solo debut, 2004's critically acclaimed Bone Deep, he had shared the stage with such industry luminaries as Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, Patti Labelle, Erykah Badu, and countless others. Bone Deep made him a festival circuit mainstay, and he spent the next eight years refining his signature smooth and immediate sound in both a solo setting and in support of artists like Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, the Roots, and Jill Scott. In 2012 he issued his sophomore long-player, Bone Appetit, which featured a host of guest artists, including Kindred the Family Soul, Raheem DeVaughn, Floacist, and Marsha Ambrosius.Born in North Philadelphia, Jeff Bradshaw is known as a soul-jazz and hip-hop/funk innovator, so it was only right that this trombone virtuoso found a home at Hidden Beach Recordings. Coming up in and out of the Philadelphia Soul Movement, he had performed along some of the music industry’s greats – Michael Jackson, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Pattie LaBelle, to name a few. In 2004, he released his solo debut Bone Deep, which earned him critical acclaim throughout the industry and among his fans. His signature smooth sound secured his consistent spot on the festival circuit as solo act and as a guest to artists such as Jill Scott, the Roots, and Mary J. Blige. His sophomore album at Hidden Beach, Bone Appetit, was a 2-disc release that featured a host of guest performers, including his Raheem DeVaughn, Marsha Ambrosius, and his Hidden Beach label mates – Kindred the Family Soul.  

Music is the universal language of love, to get the messages across. It would affect our lives. Think about the music our parents had: They were listening to Sam Cooke, Junior Walker & the AllStars—it put people in a great place. You had Smokey singing, “ooh baby baby,” and Marvin singing “what’s going on.” That music empowered us. They talked about love, social injustice. We have a responsibility as artists to record music that talks about our experiences. I’m honored with that responsibility—my message is all about love. - Jeff Bradshaw

Visit http://jeffbradshaw.com/

"Danny Boy"

Brittany Cusack is an Irish-American Dramatic Soprano. Recent engagements include Gioconda in La Gioconda, Maliella in I Gioielli della Madonna, Adriana in Adriana Lecouvreur, Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer, Musetta in La Boheme, High Priestess in Aida and Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro. Past engagements include Erste Dame in Die Zauberflöte, Rossweisse in Die Walküre at Lincoln Center, Ortlinde in Die Walküre, Witch in Hansel and Gretel, and Freia in Das Rheingold. Brittany portrayed Lady Macbeth in the International Electroacoustic Festival’s production Electrified Lady Macbeth. Ms. Cusack graduated from Brooklyn College-Conservatory and Shenandoah Conservatory and is Mark Schnaible’s student.

"Sempre Libera"

Praised for her “consummate artistry,” lyric coloratura soprano, Sage DiPalma, maintains a busy schedule performing as a professional musician and solo performer in operas, concerts, sacred services, and as solo and background vocalist for live performances, festivals and studio recordings...

Most recently, DiPalma performed the role of Musetta in Giacomo Puccini's La Bohème with NJ Lyric Opera. Prior, she prepared and covered the lead role of Gilda from Giuseppe Verdi's Rigoletto for Center Stage Opera, Harrisburg. She has prepared the role of Oscar for Main Line Opera Guild’s production of Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera , their production dates tba, as well as roles Susanna and Pamina of W.A. Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and  Die Zauberflöte.

Most recently, Ms. DiPalma performed arias from Giacomo Puccini's opera's Gianni Schicchi, Turandot and La Rondine at a Puccini and Friends Spring Gala Concert in Harrisburg. She sang the role of Blonde for the Palladio Chamber Orchestra's concert version of Mozart's Die Entführung aus dem Serail with Knoblauch Traveling Opera.

Fall 2018, performed one of opera’s most tempting duets “Là ci darem la mano” from Mozart’s Don Giovanni at the Weil Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall in Manahttan, NY. That Season, she also performed in New York City in the roles of Amor in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea and Dorothée in Massanet’s Cendrillon at Marc A. Scorca Hall at Opera America in Midtown, Manhattan. She made her Rossini debut singing the role of Berta in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Center Stage Opera.  With Atlantic City Opera Theatre, she performed the partial roles of Gilda Queen of the night  in scenes from Verdi’s Rigoletto and Mozart's Die Zaüberflöte. 

For last year’s Holiday Season, Ms. DiPalma prepared holiday spirituals Pietra Yon’s “Gesu Bambino” and “Rejoice” from Handel’s Messiah, and sacred works by Charles Gounod and John Rutter to sing in Manayunk, PA, and Manhattan, NY. 

Ms. DiPalma’s repertoire includes full operatic roles in Bizet’s Carmen (Frasquita), Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (Cherubino), Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri (Elvira), Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore (Giannetta), Massanet’s Thaïs (Crobyle), Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (Barbarina and Cherubino),  Cagnoni’s King Lear (Edgardo), and Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (First Lady), Michael Balfe’s Bohemian Girl (Arline), among others.

 Ms. DiPalma holds a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Temple University’s Boyer College of Music

Visit https://sagedipalma.com/

"Can't Help Falling in Love With You"

Daniel was born in Chihuahua, Mexico in 1992. At the age of 18 he entered the “Conservatorio de Música de Chihuahua” where he studied for three years, then for two years at the “Taller de Ópera de Sinaloa” with baritone Carlos Serrano. This was followed by recent studies at the “Sociedad Internacional de Valores al Arte Mexicano” in Mexico City, and now he is in Philadelphia, PA as a Resident Artist at the “Academy of Vocal Arts” since 2017.

Daniel has worked with many distinguished teachers and vocal coaches. His professional experiences have included performances with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Chihuahua, Orquesta Filarmónica de Sonora, Orquesta Sinfónica Mexiquense, Orquesta Sinfónica de la UACH, Orquesta Filarmónica 5 de Mayo, Orquesta Sinfónica Sinaloa de las Artes and AVA Opera Orchestra.

Daniel has already sung roles with many opera companies, including performances of Menotti’s The Medium (Mr. Nohlan), Roméo et Juliette (Mercutio), La Favorite (Alphonse XI), Ariadne auf Naxos (Harlekin), La Traviata (Baron Duophol), Gianni Schicchi (Betto), Der Zauberflöte (Papageno), L’Elisir d’Amore (Belcore), La Cenerentola (Dandini), and Carmen (Morales).

"Halleluhjah"

Lou Lanza is a native Philadelphian who thrives on the cultural and musical heritage of that city. Lou has music in his genes - an opera singer grandfather, a classical violinist father, and a pianist/organist & vocalist mother. His jazz influence came from another of his relatives, Vince Trombetta, a saxophonist & arranger who served as musical director of The Mike Douglas Show. Lou’s music teachers include Carlo Menotti, Jimmy Bruno, Michael Leonard, and Larry McKenna. His live performances in Philadelphia, New York, London, Los Angeles, & Las Vegas, to mention a few, have earned him the admiration of many industry professionals, colleagues, and fans.

Lou’s recordings include: the road not taken, corner pocket, Shadows and Echoes, opening Doors: A Jazz Tribute to The Doors, and an intimate portrait in blue. He was named the top male jazz vocalist of 2004 in the reader’s poll of Rio de Janeiro’s Tribuna da Imprensa for the album opening Doors. Lou is considered to be among the top 500 jazz vocalists of all time by noted jazz critic, historian, and author Scott Yanow and is listed as such in his book The Jazz Singers. Several years ago featured the premiere of the original jazz opera, The Real Book of Gig, for which Lou penned the lyrics and libretto with composer Tony Gairo. Jazz journalist Alex Henderson wrote in his review that “The November 2011 presentation of ‘The Real Book of Gig’ was a creative success for Lanza.”

Lou is currently working on several projects for release, most notably Scenes From An Italian, a jazz reworking of songs by Billy Joel. He is also working on some sacred works as well as setting William Shakespeare's sonnets and poetry to music. In addition to his performing, teaching, and writing, Lou is a part of the Inspired Emotions Division at Brandywine Valley Talent. It specializes in booking jazz, classical, world, and acoustic music. Lou is a member of the music faculty at Moravian College where he teaches voice (jazz, commercial, & musical theatre) & various jazz-oriented practicums, and DeSales University for musical theatre vocal studies. Lou is very appreciative to his family, friends, and most especially to his wife, Kelly, who shares his “crazy” life.

Visit - https://www.loulanza.com/

"Lean On Me"

Melba MooreTony Award-winner, Grammy-nominated international recording star, actress and musical singer Melba Moore was born Beatrice Melba Smith on October 29, 1945 in New York City. 

Moore returned to the Newark Public Schools and student taught at the Pershine Avenue Elementary School. As a teacher, Moore began to perform with other teachers that formed a cultural performance group called Black Voices. In 1968, Moore began to work at various studios in Manhattan where she provided background vocals for the likes of Frank Sinatra and Aretha Franklin. While working at one such session, Moore was encouraged to audition for the Broadway musical Hair in 1968. She succeeded Diane Keaton in the lead role in 1969.  

Moore went on to play recurring roles in several hit Broadway productions including Purlie, which she won a Tony Award for Best Supporting Actress in a Musical, Inacent Black, Timbuktu and Les Misérables. In 1975, alongside her then-husband Charles Huggins, Moore formed Hush Productions and signed R&B artist Freddie Jackson. That same year, she released her Grammy-nominated, debut album entitled Peach Melba. Throughout the 1980s, Moore made appearances on several television and movie productions including Ellis Island. In 2003, she was featured alongside Beyoncé Knowles and Cuba Gooding, Jr. as “Bessie Cooley” in The Fighting Temptations.

Visit - https://www.melbamoore.com/

"Lean On Me"

Christian is a young singer/songwriter/producer from Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania playing guitar, piano, ukulele and more. Christian appeared on Season 4 of NBC's The Voice and has an original album and brand new single available on iTunes and Spotify. 

Christian Porter is your regular all-American guy…but with extraordinaire musical talents. The young singer/songwriter became interested in music after learning to play the piano at a very young age, which helped inspire him to pursue other musical instruments (he also plays the guitar, drums, bass and ukulele).
Proud of his accomplishments, Christian went into the studio and self-recorded his first album in 2008 when he was just 16 years old. Titled One Reason, the pop album features eight original songs and features guest appearances from artists like Randy Bigness, Regina Sayles and Tony Dellaria. 
The success of his music has led to opening gigs for Bo Bice, Thriving Ivory, Dawes, Ryan Cabrera, We The Kings and Gavin Degraw, in addition to various gigs at numerous bars, clubs, coffee houses, restaurants and more across the nation. 
With a soulful pop sound, Christian’s music is truly unforgettable and comprised of melodic beats and heart filled lyrics. Now, his music is a refection of all these inspirations, as he begins to carve out his own musical niche within the pop world. 
In May 2012, Christian released his all-new EP, All About You, which consists of five original songs and is now available for purchase on iTunes. Currently, the unsigned artist is looking to expand his career and talents, while providing fans and music lovers with unique sounds that convey truth, realness and passion.

Visit  - christianportermusic.com 

"Native American Flute and Lecture"

Tony is an accomplished World-Beat percussionist. During Tony's youth, he was exposed to Afro-Cuban, Latin Rock and urban soul style Conga Drumming in the San Francisco Bay area, and continued to pursue other African based rhythms which he later fused with his Native American Flute, Voice and Drum music. As a World percussionist has performed and recorded with the late Vince Welnick of "Grateful Dead", late Ruben Romero on "Native Flamenco" album, Snatam Kaur on "Heaven and Beyond", "Reunited". 

Tony Redhouse serves as a traditional Native American practitioner & consultant to Native American communities and behavioral health organizations utilizing Native American art, dance and music to inspire and heal lives. He provides one-to-one sessions spiritual coaching with individuals to bring simplicity and clarity to life transitions, goals and healing.

Visit - https://www.tonyredhouse.net/

"You Raise Me Up", "Lift Every Voice"

Renée Richarson (soprano) is from Springfield, Pennsylvania. The Haitian- American singer is a recent graduate of the Cleveland Institute of Music (CIM), and now is a second- year Resident Artist with The Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA). Previous roles include Fiordiligi in Mozart’s Così fan tutte, Béatrice in Berlioz’s Béatrice et Bénédict, and the title role in Puccini’s Suor Angelica and Cherubini’s Medea, all with CIM. Richardson has been seen in many Pensacola Opera productions including Carmen, La Bohème, and The Pirates of Penzance. At AVA, she has sung Foreign Princess in Dvořák’s Rusalka, thetitle role and Suor Dolcina in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, and Inèsin Donezetti’s La Favorite. She has also been seen in Beethoven’s Ninth with the Kennett Symphony as the soprano soloist.

"Amazing Grace"

Sonata Stevenson is a singer-songwriter, pianist, organist, conductor, accompanist, violinist, recording artist, arranger, educator and composer. She was born and raised in India until the age of thirteen and received her initial musical training under her father’s tutelage. Ms. Stevenson has a Bachelors degree in Music Performance from Temple University and a Masters in Business Administration. She also has Performance diplomas from the Trinity College of Music, London.