New York International Vocal Ensemble in Norman Wells
September 17 @ 7:30 pm
A brand-new concert made just for NACC with a rising opera star from New York & An ensemble of WORLD CLASS musicians!
Kofi Hayford is a young, prize-winning Ghanaian-American bass, described as possessing an “impressive, “sonorous”, and “stentorian bass voice”, also produces a distinct sound – easily identified for its unique timbre. With almost 40 different operatic roles under his belt, he is swiftly building his reputation as an accomplished artist by bringing an “exciting” and “stunning” sound to the stage.
He performs with an ensemble of musicians of diverse backgrounds including Daniel Beliavsky who is an educator, concert pianist, music theorist, composer, and filmmaker. He has performed in Europe and throughout the United States with both orchestra and in recital–notable engagements include concerto performances with the Milwaukee and New Jersey Symphony Orchestras and the Moscow State Symphony Orchestra. They will be joined by award-winning Mezzo-soprano Mary Beth Nelson, who was recently praised by Opera News for her “ardent, focused, von-Stadean mezzo” with Juilliard Opera in Handel’s Atalanta with the Juilliard415 historical performance orchestra.
The Northern Arts and Cultural Centre is thrilled to welcome Kofi Hayford and his ensemble to the stage again as the opener of our 40th Anniversary Season.
The Ensemble
Daniel Beliavsky, Ph.D., is an educator, concert pianist, music theorist, composer, and filmmaker. Daniel produces music documentaries through his production company, Opus1films, which in 2011 released Sonata (1957), a film about the distinguished American composer Donald Harris’s opus one, the Sonata for piano, and about Harris’s early career in Paris. Now Chair of the Fine Art and Music Department at Yeshiva University in New York City, Daniel has been a visiting professor of music theory, piano performance, aesthetics, writing about music, and history at several universities.
Mezzo-soprano Mary Beth Nelson was recently praised by OperaNews for her “ardent, focused, von-Stadean mezzo” with Juilliard Opera in Handel’s Atalanta with the Juilliard415 historical performance orchestra. Last summer, she joined the Filene Artists roster at Wolf Trap Opera, singing Siébel in Gounod’s Faust, as well as a recital with pianist Steven Blier.
Kofi Hayford is a young, prize-winning Ghanaian-American bass, described as possessing an “impressive” (Brooklyn Discovery) “sonorous”, (Meet Me at the Opera) and “stentorian bass voice” (National Herald) also produces a distinct sound – easily identified for its unique timbre. With almost 40 different operatic roles under his belt, he is swiftly building his reputation as an accomplished artist by bringing an “exciting” and “stunning” sound to the stage.
