Saturday, November 21, 2009
PROFESSIONAL RECITAL SERIES KICKS OFF AT TRINITY
Trinity United Methodist Church Grand Island is launching
its first ever recital series featuring professional musicians from Western New
York. The first recital of the year will be held on Saturday, Nov. 21 at 7:30 p.m.
and will feature Tenor Paul Waara, accompanied by pianist, James Welch.
Mr. Waara attended
SUNY Fredonia, where he earned his Bachelor’s of Music in Music Education. He
has actively
been performing with Opera-Lytes, a local theatre company since 2003. Favorite
roles include: Signor Deluso (Léon), The Mikado (Nanki Poo), Patience
(Duke of Dunstable), The Pirates of Penzance (Frederic), Hello,
Dolly! (Cornelius Hackl), and HMS Pinafore (Ralph Rackstraw). Paul
has also served as the Vocal Director for Opera-Lytes since 2004 and conducts
the group’s annual Christmas and Valentine’s Concerts. He has been a tenor
soloist for Handel’s Messiah with the Niagara Interfaith Chorale, Judas
Maccabeus with the Amherst Chamber Ensembles, and has also sung the role of
the “Narrator” in The Coffee Cantata by J.S. Bach. Mr. Waara
is a cantor at St. John Vianney Church in Orchard Park where he also co-directs
the Adult Choir.
Mr. Welch is
known as a collaborative pianist and soloist. He is a graduate of East Carolina
University where he received his M.M. in Piano Performance and worked as a
graduate teaching assistant. He received his B.M. in Piano Performance and a
Performer's Certificate from the State University of New York College at
Fredonia. He is the 2nd place winner of the 2007 Bradshaw & Buono
International Piano Competition. Mr. Welch regularly accompanies vocal and
instrumental recitals, choral concerts, musical theatre and opera workshops,
master classes, and auditions throughout the Western New York area including a
master class given by Renee Fleming in 2006. He presently serves on the faculty
at the State University of New York College at Fredonia as a vocal accompanist
and instructor of class piano.
Saturday’s program will feature music by Mozart, Faure,
Rodgers, and others.
The entire community is
encouraged to attend. A free will donation will be collected with proceeds
benefiting the Trinity Chancel Choir Fund.