Artist Biographies

Richard Carsey, conductor

This concert marks Mo. Carsey’s first appearance with the Charlotte Symphony.

As a conductor, pianist and actor, Richard Carsey brings a wealth of musical expertise and experience to the stage. He has conducted Broadway musicals, national tours, film with live orchestra, rock tribute shows with symphony, world premiere operas, PBS broadcasts and more. He is currently the conductor for Disney on Classic, a concert tour by The Orchestra Japan.

In 2014-15, he toured the US as Music Director of Cameron Mackintosh’s new production of The Phantom of the Opera. Other national tours include the Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles with George Hamilton, and the new musical Little House on the Prairie, featuring Melissa Gilbert.

Internationally, he has performed as pianist and conductor in such exotic locales as Lima, Athens, Islamabad, and Kuwait. On Broadway he was the Music Supervisor of The House of Blue Leaves with Ben Stiller, and Musical Director for A Minister’s Wife at Lincoln Center Theater.

He has a long association with the Skylight Opera Theatre in Milwaukee, WI as Principal Conductor, and for nine seasons was Artistic Director. Highlights of his tenure include the world premiere and television broadcast of Richard Wargo’s opera Ballymore; PBS broadcast of The Mikado; and the world premiere of the opera The Rivals by Kirke Mechem.

As an actor he has appeared in 2 PIANOS 4 HANDS at many regional theaters including Dallas Theater Center, Actor’s Theater of Louisville, The Globe (Saskatchewan), Laguna Beach Playhouse, and Hartford Stage (Connecticut Critic’s Circle Award). Other acting highlights include The Boys in the Band (Harold); Twelfth Night (Malvolio); Souvenir (Cosme) and Old Wicked Songs (Mashkin).

For six seasons he was the Principal Pops Conductor of the Racine Symphony, and has conducted Syracuse Opera, Sheboygan Symphony, and Lyric Opera Cleveland. Recently he was Keyboard and Cover Conductor for the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall in NYC.

Justin Sargent, vocalist

Mr. Sargent returns to the Charlotte Symphony after appearing in this Spring’s Broadway’s Longest concert.

Justin Matthew Sargent starred on Broadway as Peter Parker in SpiderMan: Turn Off the Dark (music by Bono and The Edge). His other Broadway appearances include Drew in the hit rock musical Rock of Ages, and the Original Broadway cast of Bonnie & Clyde.

Justin has performed alongside music legends like John Legend, Alice Cooper, Sara Bareilles, Dee Snider, Kip Winger, Graham Russell, and was recently seen in NBC’s Jesus Christ Superstar Live. His other film and television appearances include Delocated, Big Exit, Stormchaser, Law & Order: SVU, Winding Waters, Mr. Robot, Royal Pains, and It Could Be Worse.

Justin’s regional theatre credits include Tony in West Side Story, Love Actually, Pippin, The Rocky Horror Show, Forever Plaid, Jesus Christ Superstar, and High School Musical.

Justin has also performed across the country singing the music of QUEEN with a live symphony, and has been a guest singer with the band Air Supply. Justin is a graduate of the University of Central Florida (BFA Musical Theatre).