St. Andrew’s to host U.S. Army Chorus Quartet

Joe Holt

The performance will feature tenor Stephen Cramer, tenor Pablo Telemante, from Sonora, Mexico, Bass Alvy Powell has performed in “Porgy and Bess” at Lincoln Center in New York and throughout the world on tour, Baritone Bob McDonald is a specialist in Gilbert and Sullivan.  

It will include their favorite specialties in addition to patriotic selections, accompanied by pianist Joe Holt. Holt will play a solo, “Waltz Suite” from “Carousel.”

Holt enjoys a wide-ranging musical career as conductor, pianist, chamber music performer, arts administrator, educator and arranger. He is in his third season as artistic director for Gloria Musicae, Sarasota’s professional choral ensemble. Under his leadership the organization has grown and garnered accolades for its innovative programming and superior vocal quality. In the community of Sarasota, he is also artist in residence at Faith Lutheran Church and has appeared as pianist and conductor for the Artist Series Concerts, Musical Mondays of the Sarasota Institute of Lifetime Learning and with the Sarasota Orchestra.

Holt served more than 20 years as principal pianist with The United States Army Chorus. He has been awarded numerous prizes, including the Brahms award from Wolf Trap, and his appearances in recitals and with orchestras in North America, Europe and the Middle East have elicited acclaim from audiences and critics alike.

Holt last performed in Boca Grande in March of 2012, presenting “A Few of My Favorite Things,” featuring selections by Mozart, Brahms, Debussy, Chopin, Gershwin, Alberto Ginastera and Richard Addinsell.

The Army Chorus regularly appears with the National Symphony Orchestra in the televised Memorial Day and Independence Day performances from the U.S. Capitol. Also, the Chorus has performed with the Atlanta Symphony, the Cincinnati Pops, the San Francisco Symphony, the Seattle Symphony, Grant Park Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Annapolis Symphony, and the Dallas Wind Symphony.

The members of the Army Chorus, most of whom hold advanced degrees in music, are selected from among the nation’s finest musicians. In 2011, the group celebrated its 55th Anniversary which was marked with concerts that included a reunion of past members, many of whom have gone on to successful careers in music education and as soloists on Broadway and opera stages around the world.