C-N Alum Plans California Concert

Michael Valentine will perform in concert at Garden Grove, California’s Crystal Cathedral on Sunday, August 5, 2012.

A 2000 alumnus who studied with Dr. John Burgin, Valentine was the first C-N student in more than a decade to win first place at the Mid-South Regional Auditions of the National Association of Teachers of Singing. He was part of the A Cappella Choir and Men’s Chorus, both under the direction of Dr. Eric Thorson, and he was selected as soloist for three Oratorio performances.

As a Belmont University graduate student, the Dandridge native was chosen as tenor soloist for J. S. Bach’s Magnificat, under the direction of Dr. Donald Neuen. He soloed in Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass, performed with the university’s orchestra and appeared in several opera scenes.

He has sung with the Nashville Symphony and the AIMS Symphony Orchestra in Graz, Austria, as well as in a Mozart Mass for a local church in Graz. His master class performances include work with Marietta Simpson and Regina Resnik. He has also performed with the Vanderbilt Community Chorus, under the direction of Pamela Schneller, and with members of the Nashville Symphony Orchestra.

Previous visits to the Crystal Cathedral include a 2009 evening worship service solo and being part of the Hour of Power Choir when Neuen was its director.