a 501(C)3 non profit organization
Paul Sperry, Music Director
Paul Sperry, Music Director
Announcing the 2012 DEBUT ARTIST AWARD WINNER
Abigail Levis, mezzo-soprano
Praised by the Boston Musical Intelligencer for her “dramatic style”, ABIGAIL LEVIS has performed with The Crested Butte Music Festival, Opera New Jersey, The Austrian American Mozart Academy, and Songfest as part of their Young Artist programs. Ms. Levis holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music and the Moores School of Music at the University of Houston. She is currently a member of the Vocal Arts program at the Bard College Conservatory where she studies with Edith Bers and Dawn Upshaw.
Assisted by pianist Jonathan Ware, Ms. Levis' award winning program featured songs by Berg, Guastavino, Harbison, Poulenc and Wolf. Please join us this fall, when Joy In Singing presents Ms. Levis in recital at Merkin Hall auditorium on October 10, 2012.
Winner of the Pianist’s Prize at the 2011 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition, American pianist Jonathan Ware is in demand as a chamber musician
and 
Winner of the Pianist’s Prize at the 2011 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition, American pianist Jonathan Ware is in demand as a chamber musician
and accompanist. He has been seen recently in performances at
Alice Tully Hall, Wigmore Hall and Carnegie’s Weill Hall. Grand Prize winner of the 2005 Kingsville International Young Performer's Competition, Jonathan has been heard on radio stations across the world including WQXR (New York), WFMT (Chicago) and Bavarian Radio, as well as on U.S. public television in the documentary Speaking with Music. Recent and upcoming engagements include song recitals in La Roche, Switzerland and at the Internationale Meistersinger Akademie, a début at the 2012 Rheingau Musik Festival, and the completion of a third residency on the accompanying staff of The Steans Institute at Chicago’s Ravinia Festival.
IN MEMORIAM:
FADLOU SHEHADI
For thirteen years, Joy In Singing was the recipient of the great leadership and creativity of its Board President, Fadlou Shehadi. Sadly, Mr. Shehadi died on February 29, 2012 at the age of 86.Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Fadlou planned and executed an astounding double route to his personal fulfillment. Driven by his dual love of philosophy and music he succeeded brilliantly in both areas.
As a Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University, he taught, wrote several books and innovative tracts particularly focused on the subject of Islam and the philosophy of Medieval Islamic music. As a deeply talented and skilled baritone, he pursued the study of classical singing in Europe, Canada and the United States working with Pierre Bernac and Jennie Tourel. He performed as a soloist with leading symphonies and chamber orchestras and also sang roles in 'Boris Godunov' and Mozart's 'Idomeneo'. It was however his ardent pursuit of art song that brought him at the age of 80 to perform Schubert's 'Winterreise' with Dalton Baldwin at the piano.
His deep commitment to the Mission of Joy in Singing enabled the organization to grow and prosper. He was not only a masterful fund raiser, but his vision of a deeper and more resonant quality of art song performance helped Joy In Singing consistently raise our standards, and encourage educational outreach to the community at large. Fondly, we remember our Board meetings where a roomful of temperamental singers were held to the subject by Fadlou's low and measured voice (and pleading). He was a lovely, elegant man of grace and tact.
We miss him - very much.
FADLOU SHEHADI
For thirteen years, Joy In Singing was the recipient of the great leadership and creativity of its Board President, Fadlou Shehadi. Sadly, Mr. Shehadi died on February 29, 2012 at the age of 86.Born in Beirut, Lebanon, Fadlou planned and executed an astounding double route to his personal fulfillment. Driven by his dual love of philosophy and music he succeeded brilliantly in both areas.
As a Professor of Philosophy at Rutgers University, he taught, wrote several books and innovative tracts particularly focused on the subject of Islam and the philosophy of Medieval Islamic music. As a deeply talented and skilled baritone, he pursued the study of classical singing in Europe, Canada and the United States working with Pierre Bernac and Jennie Tourel. He performed as a soloist with leading symphonies and chamber orchestras and also sang roles in 'Boris Godunov' and Mozart's 'Idomeneo'. It was however his ardent pursuit of art song that brought him at the age of 80 to perform Schubert's 'Winterreise' with Dalton Baldwin at the piano.
His deep commitment to the Mission of Joy in Singing enabled the organization to grow and prosper. He was not only a masterful fund raiser, but his vision of a deeper and more resonant quality of art song performance helped Joy In Singing consistently raise our standards, and encourage educational outreach to the community at large. Fondly, we remember our Board meetings where a roomful of temperamental singers were held to the subject by Fadlou's low and measured voice (and pleading). He was a lovely, elegant man of grace and tact.
We miss him - very much.
