Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series Presents John Holiday, counter tenor; Kevin Miller, piano

November 18, 2024

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contacts:  Linda Burrows, Concert Series Coordinator; 805-705-0938

and Dr. Robert Cassidy, Artistic Director; syvconcerts@smitv.org; 805-455-5474

 

John Holiday, counter tenor, and Kevin Miller, piano, in recital December 1, 2024, at 4pm

 

Los Olivos, Santa Barbara County, California—The Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series proudly announces the second concert of their 2024-25 season, featuring world-renowned counter tenor, John Holiday, collaborating with celebrated pianist, Kevin Miller, at St. Mark’s in the Valley Church  at 2901 Nojoqui Avenue in Los Olivos. This concert will take place on Sunday, December 1, 2024, at 4pm.

 

Artistic Director, Dr. Robert Cassidy, says: “This is an incredible coup for the Santa Ynez Valley Concert Series! John Holiday is a rising star in the music world with his distinctively sweet counter tenor voice, commanding a wide amount of repertoire, from baroque to spirituals, and modern music. With his prize in the 2020 NBC singing contest “The Voice” , to his recent appearances with the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra and on NPR’s “Tiny Desk Concerts” , Holiday has developed an immense following.  We are so fortunate to have him and the talented Kevin Miller performing for us in this one-night only presentation! Get your tickets NOW, this concert will sell out!”

 

Program and Biographies

 

John Holiday and Kevin J. Miller bring a moving recital program of depth and historical significance. Their recital will highlight classical song cycles by Florence Price and by Margaret Bonds, selections from Robert L. Morris ‘Lyric Suite cycle of spirituals in gospel style, songs from the American songbook, and works by other contemporary composers.

 

Counter tenor John Holiday has established himself as “one of the finest countertenors of his

generation” (Los Angeles Times). His voice has been praised as “a thing of astonishing beauty”

(New Yorker), “arrestingly powerful, secure and dramatically high” (Wall Street Journal), and

“timeless” (Washington Post). Holiday’s unique voice and powerful story have been the subject

of profiles in The New Yorker, CNN’s Great Big Story, Los Angeles Times, and more.

 

Highlights for Holiday's 2024-25 season include a debut in the role of Farnace in Mitridate, re di

Ponto at Boston Lyric Opera in a production by James Darrah. In March 2025, he will debut as

the title role of Akhnaten in a new Barrie Kosky production of a work from the opera trilogy by

Philip Glass at Komische Oper Berlin. Holiday will return to the Bayerische Staatsoper in two

titles: Le Grand Macabre in October and Dido and Aeneas in July 2025, and will embark on a

tour with The English Concert and Harry Bicket of Giulio Cesare in the role of Tolomeo at

venues including Carnegie Hall, the Barbican and more. He will perform alongside the San

Francisco Symphony, the New Jersey Symphony, the Apollo Chamber Players, and perform a

solo recital at the Wolf Trap Foundation of the Performing Arts. He will also give a

performance on NPR's Tiny Desk Concert series as and will appear on an episode of NPR's

Amplify with Lara Downes.

 

American pianist and collaborator Kevin J. Miller is acclaimed for his dynamically artful performances. Recent

collaborations include recitals with international tenor Lawrence Brownlee at Carnegie Hall and Houston

Grand Opera, countertenor John Holiday at the Kennedy Center and The Barbican in London, Joseph Calleja

and Nadine Sierra at the Supreme Court of the United States, as well as an appearance with Mr. Calleja on

NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert series. Mr. Miller prepared soprano Jessye Norman for performances of Laura

Karpman’s production of Ask Your Mama, performed at Carnegie Hall. He also collaborated with the

acclaimed countertenor, David Daniels, in a recital at the Glimmerglass Festival. He can be heard on piano on

the recording Been in da Storm So Long, which features baritone Kenneth Overton.

??This New York native has been on the fast track to success since his days as a student at the Boys Choir of

Harlem. Beginning his musical studies at the age of eight, Mr. Miller was a featured soprano soloist - most

notably in Vivaldi’s Gloria and Lake George Opera Association’s production of A Midsummer Night’s Dream. 

While a student at the Boys Choir of Harlem, he studied piano with the late conductor and pianist Warren

Wilson. It was also during these years that Mr. Miller began his work as an accompanist, having accompanied

the choir on its tours of Europe, Israel, Austria, and Japan.

??Mr. Miller studied at the Mannes College of Music, where he received a Bachelor of Music degree in Piano. He

continued his studies at the University of Michigan School of Music where he received both a Master of Music

degree and the Artist Diploma in Collaborative Piano under the tutelage of Martin Katz.

 

St. Mark’s in-the-Valley provides an intimate concert experience with seating for just over one hundred.

St. Mark’s is pleased to offer the SYV Concert Series as a community arts enrichment program. All people are welcome to enjoy these concerts, and student tickets are FREE. Please secure tickets IN ADVANCE online at:

 

smitv.ejoinme.org/SYVCSTickets

About St. Mark’s-in-the-Valley Episcopal Church: Formed in 1926 and serving the Santa Ynez Valley at its present location in downtown Los Olivos since 1979, St. Mark’s practices a spacious Christianity and welcomes people of all faiths or none. St. Mark’s is a no-fee community center for non-profit groups and community meetings, an arts venue for musical and cultural events, a welcome center for residents and area visitors, and home to a vibrant, inclusive faith community. St. Mark’s top-flight, non-sectarian professional preschool serves Santa Ynez Valley families with quality early childhood education. The County-permitted SYV Community Kitchen at St. Mark's serves as a regional food hub. St. Mark’s is also grateful to be home to the area’s Jewish community and a local Zen sangha (part of Santa Barbara Zen Center). Open doors, restrooms, free Wi-Fi, a shady courtyard, gardens, a labyrinth, and water for pets are available for visitors and area residents all day, every day. For more information, please visit St. Mark's in the Valley Episcopal Church in Los Olivos, CA - News (smitv.org)

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