Aretha—A Tribute

January 31

Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall at FSW

2020-2021 Season Sponsor: Gunterberg Charitable Foundation – Culliton Family

Conductor

Dr. Andrew M. Kurtz

Vocalists

Capathia Jenkins

Ryan Shaw

Program

Tonight’s program is sponsored in part by Chuck Bergstrom, Award-Winning Realtor of RE/MAX of the Islands.

Aretha Overture

Arr William Holcombe, Jr

Chain of Fools

DON COVEY,
Arr. Sam Shoup

Birth of the Blues

DeSYLVA / BROWN / HENDERSON,
Arr. Rhodes, Orch. Stevens

Nobody Does It Better

SAGER / HAMLISCH,
Arr. Nic Raine

What a Friend We Have in Jesus / Climbing Higher Mountains

Arr. Matt Podd

America the Beautiful

KATHERINE BATES / SAM WARD,
Arr. Sam Shoup

Respect

OTIS REDDING, 
Arr. Roger Holmes

I Got You (I Feel Good)

JAMES BROWN,
Arr. Roger Holmes

(You Make Me Feel Like) A Natural Woman

GOFFIN / KING / WEXLER,
Arr. John Bachalis

A Change is Gonna Come

SAM COOKE

Isn’t She Lovely

STEVIE WONDER,
Arr. Bill Holman

Try a Little Tenderness

WOODS / CAMPBELL / CONNELLY,
Arr. Sam Shoup

Amazing Grace

Arr. Matt Podd

Vocalist

Capathia Jenkins

Capathia Jenkins can definitely act but all those who know her also know that this diva can blow and blow and blow you right off this planet. This woman who grappling with two dueling passions each with a strong grip: acting and music, yet she refuses to pick one because they both represent her soul. Capathia approaches a song the same way she approaches a script, like an artist. She looks for the nuances, the secret hidden within the notes or text. She seeks the melody, harmony and rhythm. She asks herself: what am I trying to say? What do I want my audience to experience with me? She wants to take her audience on a journey.


This Brooklyn-born and raised actress most recently starred as ‘Medda’ in the hit Disney production of Newsies’ on Broadway. She made her Broadway debut in The Civil War, where she created the role of Harriet Jackson. She then starred in the Off-Broadway 2000 revival of Godspell, where she wowed audiences with her stirring rendition of ‘Turn Back, O Man’ which can still be heard on the original cast recording. She returned to Broadway in The Look of Love and was critically acclaimed for her performances of the Bacharach/David hits. Ms. Jenkins then created the roles of ‘The Washing Machine’ in Caroline, Or Change and ‘Frieda May’ in Martin Short-Fame becomes me where she sang ‘Stop the Show’ and brought the house down every night.


In 2007 she went back to Off-Broadway and starred in (mis) Understanding Mammy-The Hattie McDaniel Story for which she was nominated for a Drama Desk Award. She was also seen in Nora Ephron’s Love, Loss, and What I Wore.


An active concert artist, Ms. Jenkins has appeared with orchestras around the world including the Cleveland Orchestra, Houston Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony (with Marvin Hamlisch), National Symphony, Atlanta Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Utah Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, San Antonio Symphony, Minnesota Orchestra, Memphis Symphony, Nashville Symphony, Toledo Symphony, Colorado Symphony, Toronto Symphony, Edmonton Symphony, Calgary Philharmonic, Kansas City Symphony, San Diego Symphony and the Hong Kong Philharmonic. She was a soloist with the Festival Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. In 2011 Capathia had the great honor of performing in the ‘Broadway Ambassadors to Cuba’ concert as part of the Festival De Teatro De La Habana. Ms. Jenkins was a guest soloist with Peter Nero and the Philly Pops and with the Cincinnati Pops.

Her Television credits include 30 Rock, the Practice, Law & Order SVU, the Sopranos, Law & Order. She can be seen in the 2012 film ‘Musical Chairs’ directed by Susan Seidelman. She can be heard on the following film soundtracks: Nine, Chicago, Legally Blonde 2.

Vocalist

Ryan Shaw

Ryan Shaw is a three time Grammy nominated artist. He most recently appeared as Judas in the Lyric Opera House’s (Chicago) US debut of the critically acclaimed London’s Regents Park production of Jesus Christ Superstar, which won the Oliver for “Best Musical Revival”. He also stared as the original Stevie Wonder in Motown the Musical on BroadwayHe has also stared on London’s Wes End as the Soul of Michael Jackson in Thriller Live.  As a Recording artist Ryan has toured the world and shared the stage with such artists as Van Halen, Bonnie Rait, Joss Stone, John Legend, B.B. King, Bruce Hornsby, Jill Scott, to name a few.

 

On Television, Ryan has been guest artist on The Ellen DeGeneres ShowEllens Really Big Show, Last Call With Carson Daly, and The Martha Stewart Show, His music has been featured on FOX’s So You Think You Can Dance and ABC’s Dancing With The Stars, Grey’s Anatomy, and Lincoln Heights. His music has also been featured in the films My Blueberry Nights starring Norah Jones, Jude Law, and Natale Portman; Brides Maids starring Kate Hudson, and Ann Hathaway, and the Sex In the City Sound Track.

 

As a concert soloist, Ryan Shaw made his Radio City Music Hall debut at the Dream Concert benefit to build the Martin Luther King Jr National Monument in Washington DC.  His Carnegie Hall appearances include an Elton John and Bernie Taupin TributeA Celebration of The African American Cultural Legacy, Curated by Jessye Norman. Ryan has also been honored to be the second artist in history to be asked to perform a return engagement at the Central Park Summer Stage Galla (second to Stevie Wonder).  He has also been a featured artist with the Houston Symphony for their R&B Mixtape concert as well as the soloist for the Houston Symphony’s 4th of July Celebration.  Ryan then returned to Carnegie Hall to headline the Nat King Cole Centennial Concert.

Andrew M. Kurtz

Music & Executive Director​

 

Gulf Coast Symphony founder Dr. Andrew M. Kurtz enters his twenty-sixth season as the Symphony’s Music & Executive Director, and conductor. His deep rooted commitment to new work, community and education, combined with a vibrant artistic vision has led to creating and nurturing one of the most dynamic arts organizations in the region. His conducting has been called “passionate, expansive, expert, and musical.” He was named the 2007 Performing Artist of the Year at Lee County’s Angel of the Arts Awards. Kurtz’s repertoire encompasses a wide range of music styles from baroque to contemporary, and multiple genres including symphonic, opera, ballet, musical theater, jazz, cantorial, and symphonic pops.

An avid arts educator, Maestro Kurtz was Resident Music Director at the Luzerne Music Center. Kurtz is a past-president of the board of the Lee County Alliance for the Arts. In 2001, he won First Prize in the Dell’Arte di Firenze International Conducting Competition, and made his European conducting debut in Florence. In 1995, Kurtz made his international operatic debut in Tel Aviv while working as a staff conductor at the Israel Vocal Arts Institute. In 1997, he conducted the Metropolitan Opera Guild’s educational tour production of The Best of Puccini. He was a scholarship conducting student at the prestigious Aspen Music Festival, and boasts numerous other conducting credits, including the Pennsylvania Opera Theater, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Charlotte Symphony, Gonzaga Symphony, and the Ocean City Pops.

Kurtz completed his doctoral studies in conducting at the Peabody Conservatory and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate of the University of Virginia where he received his master’s degree in music history and a bachelor of arts in music and drama. A native of Philadelphia, Kurtz has called Southwest Florida home for more than 28 years, where he currently resides with his wife, Julie, and their son, Benjamin.

Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra Members

Violin 1

Sean O’Neil~

Clive Owens

Carlann Evans~

Ariel Eliot~

 

Violin 2

Marcia Prezioso

Margaret Nichols

Erica Griswold

David Sawtelle

 

Viola

Alfonso Giordano

Rachel Cox

Ron Erickson~

 

Cello

Antonio Innaimo~

Scott Crowley~

Andreas Werle

 

Double Bass

Scott Davis~

John Wadsworth

Flute

Deb Handley

 

Oboe

Kareema Colson

 

Clarinet

Nicholas Contreras

 

Bassoon

Stacey Gossmann

 

Horn

Kathy Edgett

Bethany Smith

 

Trumpet

Alan Evans~

Cindy Klispie

Sam Piazza

 

Trombone

Kevin Devitt~

Jeffrey Goldblatt

Steven Osborne

Timpani

Gary Colston

 

Percussion

Scott Crawford~

Paul Gavin

 

Keyboard

Gary Stroh

 

Electric Guitar

Timothy Torres

 

Electric Bass

Doni Landefeld

 

Alto Saxophone

John Giacco

Shelby Ledbetter

 

Tenor Saxophone

Dave Pate

 

Baritone Saxophone

Steve Parker

~ Denotes Gulf Coast Symphony Chamber Orchestra Member

Upcoming Concerts

Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall

2/6

Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall

2/14

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