WILSON, N.C. — January 29, 2019 — Celebrate Valentine’s Day in gala fashion with the Barton College/Wilson Symphony Orchestra on Thursday, Feb. 14, at the twenty-eighth annual “Love the Symphony.” This year’s concert, under the direction of symphony director Mark Peterson, will feature tenor Caleb Skinner performing a collection of music theater favorites.
The event will begin with a wine and cheese reception at 6:30 p.m., followed by the concert at 7 p.m. in Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus. A candlelight buffet dinner will immediately follow the program at 8 p.m.
Tickets are $65 per person, and reservations may be made by calling Sharon Barnes at 252-399-6369. Please note that tables for eight are available by reservation. The reservation deadline is Thursday, Feb. 7. No tickets will be mailed.
“It has been a wonderful experience working with Caleb in preparation for this concert,” remarked Peterson. “He’s not only a great singer, but he’s a true entertainer. Since he lives so close, we’ve been able to really fine-tune this performance.”
Skinner will perform songs from the Broadway shows “She Loves Me,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” “My Fair Lady,” “Camelot,” and “Guys and Dolls.” The orchestra will also offer several light classical and pops favorites, including works by Offenbach, Grieg, Ivanovici, and a swinging Salute to the Big Apple.
A native of Sims, Skinner earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music at Wingate University and a Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at the University of Kentucky. While completing his graduates studies, he also received acting instruction from Professor Janet Scott through University of Kentucky Opera Theatre, a student of Stella Adler.
His performing credits range from musical theatre, to opera, operetta, concert works, and solo recitals. Some of his fondest memories include performing as Martin in Aaron Copland’s “The Tender Land” (Wingate University Opera), Sir Joseph Porter in Gilbert and Sullivan’s “H.M.S. Pinafore” (WUO), Captain Andy Hawkes in Jerome Kern’s “Showboat” (University of Kentucky Opera Theatre), Mr. Mushnik in Alan Menken’s “Little Shop of Horrors” (University of Kentucky School of Theatre and Dance), and performing as Tyler and the tenor soloist in the world premiere of the mixed-choir adaptation of “Tyler’s Suite” (a choral collaboration between several living composers, such as John Corigliano, John Bucchino, Stephen Schwartz, and Jake Heggie), where he shared the stage with Tony-nominated star Ann Hampton-Calloway.
Throughout his growing career, Skinner has worked and shared the stage with several Metropolitan Opera stars, world-renowned vocal coaches and concert sings, and several composers. He is a voice teacher at The Singers Studio and is an adjunct music faculty member at Wilson Community College and Edgecombe Community College. Since returning to Wilson, Skinner has been heavily involved in the artistic community of Wilson. He directed and music directed the Arts Council of Wilson and Barton College’s summer production of “South Pacific,” Act! For Youth’s fall production of “Once on this Island,” and he served as musical director of Act! For Youth’s recent production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”
As this distinguished event’s popularity continues to grow with an ever-increasing number of guest reservations each year, Wilson Gymnasium on the Barton campus provides a spacious and elegantly transformed environment to provide the perfect backdrop for sweethearts and friends to enjoy time-honored classics performed by the orchestra.
“Love the Symphony” is sponsored by BB&T WEALTH.
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