The University of Lynchburg Choral Union and Chamber Orchestra will present the 12th annual performance of Handel’s Messiah on Sunday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m. at E.C. Glass Civic Auditorium. Dr. Jong Kim, professor of music and director of choral activities, will conduct the performance, which will feature guest soloists, Michelle Trovato, soprano; Eunjoo Lee, mezzo soprano; Moses Yungbae Yang, tenor; and Edward Huls, bass.
Tickets for the performance are $15 and are available at the University of Lynchburg Campus Store, Givens Books, Aylor’s Farm and Garden and at the door until the performance begins.
On Saturday, December 6, the guest soloists will conduct a master class for University of Lynchburg music students. “They will work as a group to present important fundamentals of singing and give students suggestions and, feedback,” Dr. Kim said.
Michelle Trovato performs with opera companies through the U.S. and has won awards from the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, the Liederkranz Foundation, Marie Kraja International Opera Competition, Opera Les Azuriales and the Concorso Internazionale “P. Cappuccilli.” She has also been soprano soloist for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, Schumann’s Frauenliebe und Leben, Paul Vasile’s Coloratura, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass and Magnificat and Five Sonnets from Shakespeare with the Crimea Philharmonic, Ukraine. Mrs. Trovato holds a bachelor in music degree in voice from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, School of Music, and completed training at the Chautauqua Institute Voice Program, Caramoor Festival Bel Canto Young Artists Program, International Vocal Arts Institute in Montreal and Seattle Opera Young Artist Program.
Eunjoo Lee was born in Seoul, Korea and earned her bachelor’s degree from Chugae Art University. She studied at St. Cecilia Conservatory and earned her Artist Diploma (Master’s Degree) at Licinio Reficeo Conservatory in Italy. She was the first place winner of the New York Vocal Arts Competition at Carnegie Hall and was subsequently awarded a Carnegie Hall performance as the winner of the Naomi Artists Rising Star Competition. She performs with opera companies throughout the United States and her native Korea. A frequent soloist at New York’s Lincoln Center, Ms. Lee made her debut in the role of Santuzza in Cavalleria Rusticana with the Catskill Philharmonic Orchestra in New York and repeated the performance with the Schenectady and Utica symphony orchestras in New York. This is her second appearance with the University of Lynchburg Choral Union.
Moses Yungbae Yang made his debut as Figaro in the Dallas Opera’s production of The Barber of Seville. He began his career as a baritone, but transitioned to tenor in 2011. He performs with numerous opera companies including the Singapore Lyric Opera and the Korean National Opera. He has performed atLincoln Center in New York. Mr. Yang was a New York District winner of Metropolitan Opera National Council Audition, first place winner of the Marian Anderson Competition, a winner of the Liederkranz Foundation Award, Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation Award, Zachary Vocal Competition National Finalist, a second place winner in Annapolis Opera Vocal Competition and the Giargiari Bel Canto Competition. He received his Artist Diploma from The Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia and his Bachelor of Music degree from Hanyang University in Seoul, Korea.
Edward Huls is making his second solo appearance with the University of Lynchburg Choral Union in this performance of Handel’s Messiah. A national finalist of Metropolitan Opera auditions, he has appeared with major opera companies throughout the United States. A native of Michigan and a graduate of Calvin College, Mr. Huls trained at Lyric Opera of Chicago where he performed Figaro in The Barber of Seville, Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia and Dr. Malatesta in Don Pasquale. Mr. Huls made his debut at Carnegie Hall and has performed with the New Jersey Choral Society in Orff’s Carmina Burana, Vaughn William’s Sea Symphony and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, which he also performed during a tour in Italy. He is currently the music director at Riverside Community Church in Elmwood Park, N.J.
