with David Troy Francis, pianist and Simone Vigilante, soprano
Sunday, July 21, 2019 @ 4pm
at the home of William and Marilyn Brown
17 Amherst Road, Asheville NC 28803
Hors d'Oeuvres & wine will be served
Please RSVP to Marilyn at: Marilyn.c.a.brown@gmail.com or call (828) 279-1102
Admission: $40 in advance per person or $45 per person at the door
To pay in advance, please make check payable to David Francis and mail to Marilyn Brown's home address above
All donations go to the artists
Simone and David's CDs will be available for purchase after the performance
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Simone Vigilante, Soprano
ABOUT SIMONE VIGILANTE
Lauded by the Asheville Citizen-Times as a “beautiful dramatic soprano capable of some awesome fireworks”, Simone Vigilante has appeared in recitals, competitions, opera companies and orchestras throughout the United States and Europe. Ms. Vigilante has lived in the Asheville area since 2001. While here, she has sung leading roles with The Modern American Music Project, Asheville Lyric Opera and Opera Creations, performed as soloist with the Asheville Symphony, Asheville Symphony Chorus, Asheville Choral Society, Asheville Area Piano Forum, performed on fundraisers for Hope to Home, Thrivent, WNCAP (Western North Carolina Aids Project), and serves as a regular Cantor/Soloist at St. Mary’s Church.
As one of the leading sopranos in the area, Ms. Vigilante has also been soloist with Asheville Village String Quartet, Allegro Music, the Asheville String Trio, the Asheville Symphony Chamber Players, Echo Early Music, and the Brevard Chamber Orchestra. She has also performed as a guest artist on the concert series of St. Matthias, St. Matthew’s, Blue Ridge Community College, Montreat Friends of Music, and as guest artist on the ribbon cutting ceremonies for NC Stage and the Grand Bohemian Hotel.
Ms. Vigilante’s recent performances and roles include mezzo-soprano soloist for Mozart’s Requiem (March 2015, Asheville Symphony Chorus and Asheville Symphony); Bloody Mary (July 2014, Asheville Lyric Opera’s South Pacific); Buttercup (March 2014, Opera Creations’ H.M.S. Pinafore); soprano soloist for Brahms’ Ein deutsches Requiem (November 2013, Asheville Symphony Chorus, Asheville Choral Society, and Asheville Symphony); Sister Rose (April 2013, The Modern American Music Project’s Dead Man Walking); Katisha (March 2013, OC’s The Mikado); Soprano Soloist for Maurice Duruflé’s Requiem (November 2012, Asheville Symphony Chorus and Asheville Symphony); Mother Abbess (April 2012, ALO’s The Sound of Music); Miss Silverpeal and the Queen of the Night (February 2012, OC’s Impressario and The Magic Flute); Ruth (October 2011, OC and Christ School’s Pirates of Penzance); Soprano Soloist for Dave Brubeck’s Mass: To Hope! A Celebration and Christopher Theofanidis’ The Here and Now (March 2011, Asheville Choral Society); the Duchess (February 2011, OC’s The Gondoliers); and the Witch (October 2009, ALO’s Hansel and Gretel).
Born in Rochester, New York, Ms. Vigilante attended the Eastman School of Music beginning her studies in piano. She furthered her studies in vocal performance with Dr. Marilyn Taylor at the (University of) North Carolina School of the Arts (BM 1997). Ms. Vigilante immediately continued her studies at Indiana University of Bloomington, where she worked primarily with Classical Singer Magazine’s 2010 teacher of the year Virginia Zeani (MM2000).
Teaching
Besides a successful career in singing, Ms. Vigilante is a popular teacher, with studios at both UNC-Asheville and La Bella Voce Studio of Simone Vigilante in Asheville. To inquire about voice lessons contact her at: simonesongbird@charter.net In 2010, she became a co-founder of Opera Creations, a creative performing and teaching company that seeks to train young singers, providing them (along with local professional singers) a chance to perform on stage. Lovers of comedy and music may have seen her also as one of OC’s Dueling Sopranos or in a musical revue.
♥️
David Troy Francis, pianist
ABOUT DAVID TROY FRANCIS
David Troy Francis was born in Memphis, Tennessee and is a multi-dimensional musical artist with a 50+ years career of excellence. Now living in Roswell, Georgia, he is an esteemed concert pianist and recording artist as well as a respected composer, arranger and accompanist.
His electrifying and critically acclaimed cd, The Americans, features the world premiere recorded performance of Eight Etudes for Piano by two time Pulitzer Prize winning composer Ned Rorem. His piano performance of this music has been described by the Los Angeles Times as consistently absorbing, whether in lyrical repose or propulsive fury. He has earned raves from composers and critics alike for his compelling combination of pulverizing technical virtuosity and poetic piano artistry.
Mr. Francis’ unique arrangements of American Hymns have led to two best selling cds: Pieces of My Childhood – American Hymns Revisited & Be Still, My Soul – American Hymns Revisited Volume Two. The latter cd was recorded in the famous Studio A at Capitol Records in Hollywood, California.
Mr. Francis’ served as the recording pianist for major motion pictures including Pursuit of Happyness, Elegy, Fame and others.
He is the composer, musical director and executive producer for the smash hit musical BARK! which ran for two years in Los Angeles becoming the 3rd longest running production in Los Angeles intimate theatrical history. BARK! has been selected critics’ choice by the Los Angeles Times and The Chicago Tribune and has received over 30 critic’s pick or rave reviews. The show has been performed in Brazil, Scotland and multiple cities in the USA.
Mr. Francis recently co-created and musically directed a sold out production of a new work: Naughty But Nice-An Intimate Evening With The Music of Cole Porter & Noel Coward. He has created gospel, cabaret and other shows. He has produced and musically directed the contemporary opera Dead Man Walking.
Mr. Francis was nominated for Best Score by the distinguished Los Angeles Drama Critics’ Circle Awards and has been awarded three consecutive ASCAP Plus Awards for musical excellence.
He has performed at thousands of churches, (Lutheran, Presbyterian, Catholic, United Methodist, Southern Baptist, et al) performing arts venues and other spaces through out the world.
To schedule Mr. Francis in concert or for comments or questions please email the pianist: pianoman9000@me.com
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