The East Tennessee Symphony Orchestra for its Sweet & Salty Valentine’s Dessert Concert on Tuesday, Feb. 11, at 7 p.m. at the Collegedale Commons on Swinyar Drive.
The performance starts with a “sweet” classical performance of Sergei Rachmaninoff’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini (featuring guest pianist Matthew Kimbley), and George Bizet’s opera Carmen; before switching gears to lay down a “salty” big band set with the symphony featuring guest vocalists Michael Smith and Ralph Miller, pianist Matthew Kimbley and soloist India Galyean.
India Galyean lived in NYC for many years where she appeared in the national tour of Shenandoah playing the lead role of Anne, on ABC’s Good Morning America promoting Lincoln Center’s Midsummer Night Swing and in many of New York‘s well known rooms including the Iridium, Irving Plaza, Tavern on the Green and The Russian Tea Room.
One of her more interesting gigs was singing for Ozzy Osborn’s 50th birthday party at The Beverly Hills Hotel. Ms. Galyean was awarded the Bistro Award for Outstanding Vocalist recognizing her work on NY’s cabaret circuit, where she shared the stage that year with legends Barbara Cook and Eartha Kitt.
She keeps busy performing with several groups from Chattanooga and Atlanta while teaching music and theatre at her alma maters, Calhoun Middle School and Calhoun High School. She was nominated for a Shuler Award last year for her lighting design for “Bring It On” and is currently working on “Matilda” and “Pippin” for their spring season.
Michael Smith was singing before he was talking. He has performed country, gospel, jazz, and big band music all over the Southeast as a solo artist and a member of the Uptown Big Band, the Swingtime Orchestra and the Glenn Draper Singers. He has performed at the Chattanooga Theater Center, the Signal Mountain Playhouse and Riverbend. He is the music director at North Shore Fellowship church in Chattanooga.
Mr. Miller has been performing music most of his life. The son of a professional musician and band director, he has been a professional musician and arranger as well as having been a band director and elementary school principal in the Hamilton County Schools. Mr. Miller has led many kinds of performing groups from big band to Dixieland and has assisted in preparation for this event.
Matthew Kimbley, 16, began his piano studies at the age of five. Later, under the tutelage of internationally acclaimed pianist Dr. John Cobb, he placed first and grand prize in the 2011 Junior Division of the Asheville Area Piano Forum Piano Competition, and first place in the 2012 Senior Division. At age 11, his family moved to Collegedale, where he began studies with Dr. Peter Cooper, Dean of Music at Southern Adventist University. Along with his many accomplishments, he also performed two full-length piano recitals in 2016 and 2018 and was a winner of Southern’s Concerto Competition in 2016. In his free time, he enjoys reading, photography and music composition.
Guests may enjoy a complimentary selection of hot drinks, desserts and roses. Desserts are courtesy of Honey & Hive Baking & Catering Co. Seats are first come-first serve, and guests are asked to arrive early to reserve a spot.
A schedule of future concerts is available on the ETSO’s website (www.etsomusic.org). For more information, contact Mathew Miller at (423) 580-4999, or visit etsomusic.org.