Local Pianist Visits Oz at Kennedy Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
(Free-Press-Release.com) August 5, 2011 -- “Wicked,” with an infectiously powerful and pulsating score by Stephen Schwartz has hit Washington, DC by storm. It made its first run in 2005 to sold-out audiences while pianist/keyboardist Victor Simonson was serving as the Associate Music Director and Conductor on a 3-year national tour for Oprah Winfrey’s “The Color Purple”. Now back in the Washington metro area, the Eastman graduate was asked several months ago to join the “Wicked” musical team for its Kennedy Center three month run. The show will be at the Opera House until late August.

Simonson, who also attended Howard University and served as the choir’s pianist, is a much sought after musician and not new to the lights of Broadway. The New York native began going to see Broadway shows when he was a small boy and played his first Broadway-esque show, “Annie” for a Long Island repertory company when he was 13. Since then, the Helen Hayes Award Nominee (Music Director, Three Mo’ Divas) served as the Music Director for Center Stage’s recent production of “The Wiz”, Music Director for Three Mo’ Tenors, wrote the score for gospel stage hits, “A House is Not a Home” and “Common Realities” and did the orchestrations for Grammy-award winning musician Donnie McClurkin’s CD, "The McClurkins". He also served as the Music Director/Conductor for “Brooklyn; The Musical”, hailing him as the youngest African American Musical Director-Conductor for a Broadway bound show. Simonson’s own composition, "Another Chance" is also featured on the Grammy Award nominated CD by Total Praise.

“I am delighted to join the award-winning "Wicked" team,” stated Simonson, who recently served at the Hampton Minister’s Conference debuting his arrangement of the sacred hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy” to rave reviews. The composition featured a fusion of sacred, jazz and gospel sounds. One could also hear Simonson’s influence of the stage in the piece. He will feature the composition at an upcoming concert. www.victorsimonson.com.

“I love all music and Broadway will always have a special place in my heart”, continued the versatile, multi-genre talent. Simonson plays classical, gospel, sacred, theatre and more. He also sings, composes and arranges and currently serves as the Minister of Music at Clifton Park Baptist Church, Silver Spring, Maryland.

Wicked is the two-hour, 45 minute musical back story of the witches of Oz, with Simonson playing keyboard in the Orchestra. This show is not to be missed. For tickets http://www.kennedy-center.​org/

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