CHICAGO NATS 57TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE
JOHN HOLIDAY IN CONCERT Tuesday, July 5, 2022 7:30 pm Fourth Presbyterian Church 126 E. Chestnut St. Chicago, IL 60611
presented by National Association of Teachers of Singing
photo: Shervin Lainez
CHICAGO 57TH NATIONAL CONFERENCE
JOHN HOLIDAY, countertenor KEVIN J. MILLER, piano | NEEKI BEY, creative director Phidylé
HENRI DUPARC
Le manoir de Rosemonde MARGARET BONDS
1. Minstrel Man 2. Dream Variations 3. I, too, sing America from Three Dream Portraits
LORI HICKS
“Sence You Went Away”
JOHN W. WORK
Soliloquy
ROBERT L. MORRIS
Humoresque Gospel Blues Juba from Lyric Suite with Kevin J. Miller, piano
— I N T E R M I S S I O N / S L I G H T PA U S E — GERSHWIN
“Summertime” from Porgy and Bess
STEVIE WONDER
“You Are the Sunshine of My Life”
ERROLL GARNER
“Misty”
THELONIOUS MONK
“‘Round Midnight”
ADAM ARGYLE JOSH LONDON STEVEN MCMORRAN
“Waste Mine”
EDDIE COOLEY OTIS BLACKWELL
“Fever”
LEONARD COHEN/ NORAH JONES
“Hallelujah” / “Come Away with Me”
ROB GRIMALDI DOUG BROWN
“Love Finds a Way”
ERIC CARMEN
“All By Myself” with Kevin J. Miller, piano
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John Holiday, countertenor Countertenor John Holiday has established himself as “one of the finest countertenors of his generation” (Los Angeles Times). His voice has been praised as “a thing of astonishing beauty” (New Yorker), “arrestingly powerful, secure and dramatically high” (Wall Street Journal), “exceptional [and] strong...even in its highest range” (The New York Times) and “timeless” (Washington Post). Holiday’s unique voice and powerful story have been the subject of profiles in The New Yorker, CNN’s Great Big Story, Los Angeles Times, and more. The 2021-22 season provided exciting debuts for Holiday, beginning with his debut at the Hollywood Bowl under the baton of Gustavo Dudamel in an all-Gershwin program with the Los Angeles Philharmonic; followed by his anticipated Metropolitan Opera debut in Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice as Orpheus’s Double under the baton of Yannick Nézet-Séguin; as well as John Holiday his debut with the New York Philharmonic in Handel’s Messiah under the baton of Jeannette Sorrell; and capping off the season with his debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper in Barrie Kosky’s production of Agrippina in the role of Nerone. Holiday returned to The Barbican for a program of sacred and secular works by Vivaldi, and he also reprised his signature role of the Refugee in Jonathan Dove’s Flight with Utah Opera and the Dallas Opera. An acclaimed concert singer, Holiday has performed at world-renowned venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, London’s Barbican Center, and the Philharmonie de Paris. His career highlights have included a tour with Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic; the Sorceress in Barrie Kosky’s production of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, and the world premiere of Matthew Aucoin’s Eurydice as Orpheus’s Double at the Los Angeles Opera; the world premiere of Daniel Bernard Roumain’s We Shall Not Be Moved with Opera Philadelphia and the Dutch National Opera; title role in Xerxes at the Glimmerglass Festival; and Caesar in Handel’s Giulio Cesare in Egitto at Wolf Trap Opera. In addition to the traditional concert performances and recitals, Holiday has curated The John Holiday Experience ( JHE) to showcase his affinity and talent for many different genres that includes classical, pop, jazz, and R&B. He has performed the program on a national scale with plans to continue the eclectic evening of song in his upcoming seasons.
Neeki Bey, creative director Grow what matters. That’s always been the motto for Neeki Bey, both personally and creatively. Over the course of more than 15 years, Bey has been fortunate enough to grow the stories of artists and organizations from — nonprofits, universities and sacred communities to emerging and established musicians. In Bey’s years as creative director for visuals and music, he has produced promotional storytelling videos, conferences, concerts and events virtually and in-person all while developing strong client relationships that deliver strategic and emotionally-resonant creative experiences.
Neeki Bey
Bey has worked with a wide range of delightful people and groups along the way including: the City of Dallas, Southern Methodist University, Episcopal Diocese of Dallas, the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Houston Boychoir, Maddie and Tae, John Holiday and Music World Music (the home of Destiny’s Child) and more.
With an undergraduate degree in music from Morehouse College, studies at the Vienna Institute for European Studies/ Vienna Conservatory of Music, and a graduate degree from Southern Methodist University, Bey is an artist at heart. When not making music or creating audio/visual spaces, he enjoys traveling (Africa, Asia, Europe), and gardening. Bey is currently based in Texas as a creative director.
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Kevin J. Miller, piano American pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller is acclaimed for his dynamically artful performances. Recent collaborations include recitals with international tenor Lawrence Brownlee at Carnegie Hall, countertenor John Holiday at the Kennedy Center, Joseph Calleja and Nadine Sierra at the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as an appearance with Calleja on NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concert” series. Miller prepared soprano Jessye Norman for performances of Laura Karpman’s production of Ask Your Mama, which was performed at Carnegie Hall. He also collaborated with the acclaimed countertenor, David Daniels, in a recital at the Glimmerglass Festival. He can be heard on piano on the recording “Been in da Storm So Long,” which features baritone Kenneth Overton. This New York native has been on the fast track to success since his days as a student at the Boys Choir of Harlem. Beginning his musical studies at the age of 8, Miller was frequently a featured soprano soloist — most notably in Vivaldi’s Gloria and Lake George Opera Association’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. While studying in the Boys Choir, he studied piano with the late conductor and pianist Warren Wilson. It was during these years that Miller also began his work as an accompanist, playing for the choir on its tours of Europe, Israel, Austria, and Japan.
Kevin J. Miller
Miller studied at the Mannes College of Music, where he received a bachelor’s degree in piano. He continued his studies at the University of Michigan School of Music where he received both a master’s degree and the artist diploma in collaborative piano under the tutelage of Martin Katz. In addition to his formal studies, Miller has been a participant in some of the country’s most prestigious festivals and young artist apprenticeships, including the Tanglewood Institute of Music, Aspen Summer Music Festival, the Cleveland Art Song Festival, San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program, Washington National Opera’s Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program, and the Glimmerglass Festival. Upon completion of his apprenticeship at the Glimmerglass Festival, he was invited to join the music staff as a vocal coach. He currently serves on music staff at Houston Grand Opera.
A special thank-you to the Fourth Presbyterian Church for hosting tonight’s concert. Thank you to our generous conference sponsors! Please visit our sponsors at the exhibit hall and online.
About the National Association of Teachers of Singing Founded in 1944, National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) is the largest professional association of teachers of singing in the world with more than 7,000 members in North America and more than 35 countries across the world. Whether working in independent studios, community schools, elementary and secondary schools, higher education, or in the medical field, NATS members represent the diversity of today’s music landscape, teaching in all vocal styles. Learn more at NATS.org. Find NATS on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, Twitter, and YouTube at OfficialNATS
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