Soprano Cheryl Parrish, accompanied by pianist Vicki Fey, performs English songs, Schubert, Mozart and Donaudy at First Presbyterian Church in Bristol, Tenn.
On Sunday, Sept. 11, at 3 p.m., the First Presbyterian Church of Bristol, Tennessee, opens its 2016-17 Arts Series with a concert by soprano Cheryl Parrish, accompanied by Vicki Fey at the piano. The program includes English songs, Schubert, Mozart and Donaudy. In addition to her program at First Presbyterian Church, she teaches a master class for students at King University. This program was originally scheduled for this past April 3.
Parrish is best known for her sensitive and moving portrayals of Mozart and Strauss heroines. She has performed in major operatic, symphony and recital venues around the world. Her career began at the San Francisco Opera where she was chosen to participate in the inaugural group of Adler Fellows and was catapulted to prominence by the televised program "Pavarotti Plus! Live from Lincoln Center."
Appearances include The Mostly Mozart Festival in Alice Tully Hall, Avery Fisher Hall, the Ravinia Festival, Cleveland Orchestra, Carnegie Hall, The Chautauqua Institute, Houston Grand Opera, New York City Opera, San Francisco Opera, The Canadian Opera Company, Zurich Opera, Opera Köln and Maggio Musicale in Florence, Italy, Santa Fe Opera, Vancouver and Calgary Opera, Austin Lyric Opera, and many more.
She was featured as Kitty Hart in the recent Houston Grand Opera production of "Dead Man Walking," released on DVD as part of the celebration of the operatic farewell of Fredericka von Staade. Her recent performances include Parthy Ann Hawks in Houston Grand Opera's "Showboat" and as Senior Overseer/Capo in the North American Opera Premiere of Mieczyslaw Weinberg's "The Passenger" produced by the Houston Grand Opera and presented at the Lincoln Center Opera Festival.
Parrish is in her 12th year with the voice faculty at Texas State University in San Marcos, Texas, and holds the rank of assistant professor of voice. She served on the voice faculty for two summers at the Opera Institute in Gallup, New Mexico, and has given master classes around the country at high schools and universities. She earned degrees in vocal performance from Baylor University and Texas State University and has studied abroad at the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst Lied and Oratorio Program in Vienna, Austria, with renowned accompanist, Dr. Erik Werba. She was also a two-time recipient of a San Francisco Opera Guild Grant for study in Paris, France with the late French soprano, Régine Crespin. From 2002-2004, she was the Director of the Young Artist Program at the Austin Lyric Opera and since then has made Austin, Texas, home.
Fey has served since 1999 as director of music ministries with husband Steve at First Presbyterian Church of Bristol, Tennessee. A Florida native, she received a Bachelor of Music degree from Stetson University in DeLand, Florida, and a Master of Music degree from the University of North Texas. Fey serves as adjunct organ/harpsichord faculty at King University and accompanist for Voices of the Mountains Chorus. She is also principal keyboardist for Symphony of the Mountains, a member of the Paramount Chamber Players, teaches private piano, does freelance accompanying in the region, is board chair for the Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy, has served on the regional arts board Arts Alliance Mountain Empire, is first vice president of the Bristol Music Club, and is a past-president to the National Executive Board of the Presbyterian Association of Musicians.
The Arts Series of the First Presbyterian Church strives to share with the community events that enrich and inspire the life of the people of Bristol, share its facilities and encourage the artistically gifted of the region and beyond. Admission is a suggested donation of $10 for adults, $5 for students. For more information, call 423-764-7176.
