Knoxville Opera Goes to Church…A Celebration of Talent!

A thrilling concert of Gospel and Opera performed by local artists with 50-voice gospel choir!

“I think we learn to know each other better; I think we learn to appreciate each other’s culture better,” – Brian Salesky

Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church
3800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave., Knoxville, TN
Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 4:30 PM

Shown below are photos from Knoxville Opera Goes to Church…A Celebration of Talent! at Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church on October 24, 2010

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Photo by Emily-Rose Bennett, Special to the News Sentinel. Soloist Evelyn Jack practices “Precious Lord, Take My Hand” for the 1st Annual Knoxville Opera Goes to Church…A Celebration of Talent!

What do you get when you combine the glorious sounds of gospel and the magnificence of opera?

1st Annual Knoxville Opera Goes to Church…A Celebration of Talent! from Knoxville Opera on Vimeo.

Knoxville Opera Maestro Brian Salesky talks about 2009′s “Knoxville Opera Goes to Church…A Celebration of Talent!,” as gospel choir members practice.

Multiple standing ovations by the crowd of over 1,000 marked last year’s Knoxville Opera Goes to Church…A Celebration of Talent! The 3rd Annual event will blend church choristers and soloists from across East Tennessee together with Knoxville Opera soloists in a unique presentation of gospel and opera. The free-admission concert, one of the company’s yearly 100 education/outreach activities, will take place on Sunday, October 9, 2011 at 4:30 p.m. at the Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church (3800 Martin Luther King, Jr. Avenue).

Jeanie Turner Melton, Music Director of Mt. Olive Baptist Church, along with Knoxville Opera Maestro Brian Salesky, conducts the 50-voice Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir.

Highlighting the list of soloists are cast members from Knoxville Opera’s production of Verdi’s La Traviata including Metropolitan Opera soprano Joyce El-Khoury, Zachary Borichevsky, and Kevin Thompson. Also featured are Yvonne Andrews, Denisha Ballew, Evelyn Jack, Horace Smith and, of course, The Knoxville Opera Gospel Choir.

Among the program’s selections will be We Fill the Sanctuary, Ride Up in the Chariot, Walk Together Children, When Sunday Comes, O Redeemed and excerpts from West Side Story, Big River, The Land of Smiles, Mefistofele, and Knoxville Opera’s 2011-2012 productions of La Traviata, Romeo & Juliette and Otello. Admission is free and early arrival is highly recommended.

For more information, contact Knoxville Opera Director of Marketing and Public Relations, Michael Torano 865|524|0795 ext 28.

Directions to Greater Warner Tabernacle A.M.E. Zion Church

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Learn more about and RSVP for the free concert!

More on 2009′s 1st Inaugural concert:
First-time concert blends opera, choir performances by Amy McRary, Knoxville News Sentinel
Opera Goes to Church: “A Dream Come True”


Opera Goes to Church is a registered trademark of Cincinnati Opera