Vanessa Williams

Tuesday, December 7, 2021 at 7:30 PM

BPO SPECIAL EVENT VANESSA WILLIAMS

Ron Spigelman, conductor Vanessa Williams

Program to Be Announced from The Stage

Patrons are asked to turn off all electronic devices. The use of cameras and recording devices is strictly prohibited.

RON SPIGELMAN, CONDUCTOR

A native of Australia, conductor Ron Spigelman, is an honors graduate of the Royal Academy of Music, London. He was Associate Conductor of the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra from 2001-2004, and before that with the Fort Worth Symphony Orchestra. He has been Music Director of the Fort Worth Dallas Ballet, the San Angelo Symphony, the Texas Chamber Orchestra, Springfield Symphony Orchestra (MO) and the Lake Placid Sinfonietta (NY), where he is now Conductor Emeritus. He is currently Pops Conductor of the Tulsa Symphony Orchestra.

He has appeared as guest conductor with many orchestras in the U.S. including the Dallas, St. Louis, San Antonio, Phoenix, Virginia, and North Carolina Symphonies as well as the Louisiana, Rochester, and Naples Philharmonic, and in Australia, the Adelaide, Queensland, The West Australian and Sydney Symphony orchestras, the West Australian Opera, and the Australian Youth Orchestra.

A champion of new music, he has conducted over 30 world premieres. He was James Conlon’s assistant conductor at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition four times, and guest artists he has accompanied include Horacio Gutierrez, Sharon Isbin, Rachel Barton Pine, Richard Stoltzman, and Pops artists including Marvin Hamlisch, Peter Paul and Mary, James Taylor, Audra McDonald, Ben Folds, Kenny G, Jason Alexander, Audra McDonald, Asleep at the Wheel, Hanson, and many others.

In 2017 for the centennial season of the Lake Placid Sinfonietta he was the producer and conductor of a CD recording which includes the world premiere recording of Sylvan by Michael Torke, which was commissioned for the centennial.

Two career highlights were the world premiere performance of Pegasus by Lowell Liebermann with the Dallas Symphony in 2001, and in 2004 his Carnegie Hall debut with the Buffalo Philharmonic.

He has conducted live film scores for Pirates of the Caribbean, Fantasia, Raiders of the Lost Ark, The Wizard of Oz, Passion of Joan of Arc, and Ben Hur. He recently added Star Wars, Home Alone, Nightmare Before Christmas, and Harry Potter – Chamber of Secrets.

Ron’s principal instrument study was the Trumpet. As a soloist he performed with several British orchestras and at music festivals in the United Kingdom, Belgium, and Italy.

Ron lives in Tulsa OK with his wife, Laura, who is a member of the Tulsa Symphony (Viola) and with two of their combined six children.

VANESSA WILLIAMS, VOCALS

Vanessa Williams is one of the most respected and multifaceted performers in the entertainment industry today. Having sold millions of records worldwide, Vanessa has also achieved numerous #1 and Top 10 hits on various Billboard Album and Singles charts: Pop, Dance, R&B, Adult Contemporary, Holiday, Latin, Gospel and Jazz.

Her critically acclaimed work in film, television, recordings and the Broadway stage has been recognized by every major industry award affiliate including 4 Emmy nominations, 11 Grammy nominations, a Tony nomination, 3 SAG award nominations, 7 NAACP Image Awards and 3 Satellite Awards. Her platinum single "Colors of the Wind," from Disney’s Pocahontas, won the Oscar, Grammy and Golden Globe for Best Original Song.

A graduate of Syracuse University, Vanessa is a strong advocate for equal rights, especially concerning the gay community and minorities. She was honored with the Human Rights Campaign “Ally for Equality” Award for her humanitarian contributions. Vanessa also achieved a career pinnacle with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2007.

Vanessa’s autobiography, “You Have No Idea,” co-written with her mother Helen Williams, was a New York Times Best Seller in 2012. Her recent Broadway credits include co-starring with Cicely Tyson in The Trip to Bountiful, (the #1 play of the 2013 season), After Midnight (2014), and a special limited engagement in Hey, Look Me Over at New York City Center in 2018. Vanessa is currently in Josie Rourke’s City of Angels in London’s West End.

Vanessa is the mother of four - Melanie, Jillian, Devin and Sasha. Her charitable endeavors are many and varied, embracing and supporting such organizations as Concerts for America, Special Olympics and several others. Vanessa is involved with and committed to the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation.

Vanessa is one of the world’s most accomplished concert artists, appearing regularly with the most prestigious symphony orchestras in the world, most recently with the National Symphony Orchestra at The Kennedy Center.

Vanessa is exclusively managed by Sterling Winters Company (SWC) / kathy ireland® Worldwide

WITH OUR MUSICAL HERITAGE SOCIETY

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