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Friday, 19 July, starting at 7:30 pm, Church on the Hill, 140 Bowdoin Street, Beacon Hill (Boston), the SONS OF LIBERTY FESTIVAL presents "BRAVE NEW WORLD" featuring Xerces Blue Early Music Ensemble performing duets, solos and trios from 16th century England and its 13 American colonies, including compositions by Thomas Morley, John Dowland, Henry Purcell, William Billings and Francis Hopkinson; with Kay Patterson, soprano; Von Bringhurst, countertenor; James Dargan, baritone; and Matthew Wright, lute.
Kynesha Patterson is an emerging soprano based in the Boston area, equally at home in concert repertoire and opera. Possessing a naturally light, clear, agile tone, she finds a special affinity for early music and contemporary music alike. An avid equestrienne and animal lover, she began teaching horseback riding professionally and entered the Harvard Extension Health Careers Program with the intention of pursuing a career in veterinary medicine. However, singing proved too powerful a calling and she is thrilled to be making music again. Her musical studies began at age 8 with piano, then taking voice lessons soon thereafter. She enjoyed many years performing in musical theater but settled comfortably in classical music where she felt most at home. Kynesha was thrilled to make her debut on the opera stage in 2008 as the Queen of the Night in the Bethesda Summer Music Festival's production of Die Zauberflöte. Kynesha has performed choral and solo work with many local ensembles including Longitude New Music Ensemble, Back Bay Chorale, Paul Madore Chorale, Cantata Singers, Ludovico Ensemble, Opera Providence and Boston Ballet. She is an ensemble member of Cantata Singers Ensemble and on the substitute roster for the Handel and Haydn Society. Kynesha is the founding director of the Xerces Blue Ensemble (XBE).
Von Bringhurst completed a two year Master of Music in Vocal Performance degree last May at the Longy School of Music in Cambridge, MA. He is a native of Pocatello, Idaho, where he also attended Idaho State University. In Idaho, he has been a soloist with the annual Messiah Sing-In and was a soloist with the Camerata Singers of Pocatello, Idaho. He has toured to Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Peru with his college Chamber Choir, and graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Music with Honors in 2009.Von worked as Music Director for the Opera House Theater Company in Philipsburg, MT in the 2008 season and was Music Director and Cremona Player for the Illustrious Virginia City Players of Virginia City, MT for their 2010 season. He sings with the choir of St. Paul's Cathedral in Cambridge for the 2012-2013 season. Von performed with Metro Stage Company's production of Chicago in October 2011, the Video Game Orchestra in 2011 and 2012, and as part of the Iberica Early Music Festival in August 2012. He is increasingly in demand as a soloist and ensemble member, often singing with XBE.
James Dargan is in increasingly great demand as an opera singer, concert soloist, and recitalist, and has been credited with "conversational flair" and a "creamy, rich quality" of voice. After degrees in literature, religion, and musicology from Boston and Leeds Universities, and a stint as a choral scholar at York Minster Cathedral (UK), James received voice lessons from Dr. Jerrold Pope and Liz Anker, and participated in masterclasses given by Lynn Torgove, Karyl Ryzcek, and Sondra Kelly; he has sung roles with Lowell House Opera, Boston Opera Collaborative, Helios Early Opera, the Juventas New Music Ensemble, Greater Worcester Opera, and OperaHub, and presented recitals at King's Chapel and St John's Episcopal Church, JP, as well as a recent recital debut at Trinity Cathedral in Miami. James also sings frequently at The Church of the Advent, is a new member of Emmanuel Music, a new addition to the roster of Boston Baroque, and is also a founding member of XBE, and a soloist and section member of The Cantata Singers. As a violinist, James has had extensive training and experience in early music, improvisation, and all eras of chamber music; he has worked closely with Judy Tarling, Nicholas Kitchen, and members of the Juilliard String Quartet; he has performed in venues such as the Hollywood Bowl, Boston's Symphony Hall and Jordan Hall, and Carnegie Hall; and premiered pieces by T.J. Anderson, Rodney Lister, and Penka Kouneva. In the fall of 2013, James will become a full time member of the professional choir of The Church of the Advent.
Matthew Wright is a native of Baltimore, Maryland. After years of playing progressive rock on the bass guitar, he attended the Peabody Conservatory, Baltimore, and studied classical guitar with Ray Chester and lute with Mark Cudek. Upon moving to Cambridge in 1999, Matt began concentrating on the lute, studying with Douglas Freundlich at The Longy School of Music, and subsequently receiving an MM in Early Music Performance. While there, he founded the group Seven Times Salt, an ensemble specializing in 16th century music of England. He has performed as a solo lutenist and continuo player for ensembles and soloists throughout the Eastern U.S., Canada, and bits of Europe. Recent concerts have been "Searching, Sharing, Six-course Lute", a solo lute and collaborative recital of 16th Century Italian music, "Love's Constancy", an English lutesong recital with soprano Claire Raphaelson, "Rantin' Pipe and Tremblin' String", a concert of Scottish music with Seven Times Salt, and "JD: 450", a series of recitals celebrating the 450th birthyear (1563) of John Dowland. Other performances have been with Renaissonics, The Lorelei Ensemble, Long and Away (MA), Ensemble Al Verso (Switzerland), Fanfare Consort (CT), the New Brunswick Early Music Festival. (Canada), and Matthew is a regular member of XBE. As a teacher of guitar and bass guitar, he currently has students at Belmont Hill School, Brimmer and May School, Cambridge Center for Adult Education, and the Longy School of Music. As a chorister, Matthew is the tenor section leader at The Eliot Church of Newton under the direction of Charles Raines.
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LocationChurch on the Hill (View)
140 Bowdoin Street
Boston, MA 02108
United States
Categories
| Kid Friendly: Yes! |
| Dog Friendly: No |
| Non-Smoking: Yes! |
| Wheelchair Accessible: Yes! |
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