“America’s Pianist” Kevin Cole has delighted audiences with a repertoire that includes the best of American Music. Cole’s performances have prompted accolades from some of the foremost critics in America. “A piano genius…he reveals an understanding of harmony, rhythmic complexity and pure show-biz virtuosity that would have had Vladimir Horowitz smiling with envy,” wrote critic Andrew Patner. On Cole’s affinity for Gershwin: “When Cole sits down at the piano, you would swear Gershwin himself was at work… Cole stands as the best Gershwin pianist in America today,” Howard Reich, arts critic for the Chicago Tribune.

Engagements for Cole include: sold-out performances with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl; BBC Concert Orchestra at Royal Albert Hall; National Symphony at the Kennedy Center; Hong Kong Philharmonic; San Francisco Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Philadelphia Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra (London); Boston Philharmonic, Adelaide Symphony Orchestra (Australia), Minnesota Orchestra, Pittsburgh Symphony, Dallas Symphony, Seattle Symphony, Vietnam National Symphony Orchestra, New Zealand Symphony, Edmonton Symphony (Canada), Ravinia Festival, Wolf Trap, Savannah Music Festival, Castleton Festival, Chautauqua Institute and many others. He made his Carnegie Hall debut with the Albany Symphony in May 2013.

He has shared the concert stage with, William Warfield, Sylvia McNair, Lorin Maazel, Brian d’Arcy James, Barbara Cook, Robert Klein, Lucie Arnaz, Maria Friedman, Idina Menzel and friend and mentor Marvin Hamlisch. Kevin was featured soloist for the PBS special, Gershwin at One Symphony Place with the Nashville Symphony. He has written, directed, co-produced and performed multimedia concerts for: The Gershwin’s HERE TO STAY -The Gershwin Experience, PLAY IT AGAIN, MARVIN!-A Celebration of the music of Marvin Hamlisch with Pittsburgh Symphony and Chicago Symphony and YOU’RE THE TOP!-Cole Porter’s 125th Birthday Celebration and I LOVE TO RHYME – An Ira Gershwin Tribute for the Ravinia Festival with Chicago Symphony.

Kevin Cole is an award-winning musical director, arranger, composer, vocalist and archivist who garnered the praises of Irving Berlin, Harold Arlen, E.Y. Harburg, Hugh Martin, Burton Lane, Marvin Hamlisch, Stephen Sondheim and members of the Jerome Kern and Gershwin families.

He has worked as vocal arranger/accompanist for opera, pop and musical theatre performers Sylvia McNair, Dawn Upshaw, Brian d’Arcy James, Karen Morrow, Melissa Manchester, John Lithgow, Donna McKechnie, Christine Andreas, Hollis Resnik, Klea Blackhurst, Kim Criswell and William Warfield.

Kevin has given Master Classes in musical theatre vocal performance at Interlochen Center for the Arts and North Carolina School of the Arts. He has served as Musical Director for Pasadena Playhouse, Michigan Ensemble Theatre, San Francisco Shakespeare Festival and Royal George Theatre (Chicago).

Kevin’s mentors were songwriting legends Marvin Hamlisch and Hugh Martin. Mr. Martin, who worked with Lena Horne, Ethel Waters, Judy Garland and many others stage and screen greats was Kevin’s vocal coach.

His discography includes Gramophone Musical Album of the Year, 1995, Gershwin’s Oh, Kay! with soprano Dawn Upshaw (Elektra/Nonesuch), his critically acclaimed solo piano disc, Cole Plays Gershwin and his vocal/jazz trio album In The Words Of Ira-The Songs of Ira Gershwin.

Recently, Marissa appeared on Broadway in the Roundabout Theatre Company Revival of Kiss Me Kate at Studio 54, playing the Wardrobe Mistress and understudying Lilli Vanessi, played by the incomparable Kelli O’Hara. Marissa  had the honor to be chosen by Mr. Marvin Hamlisch to star as Stella Purdy in the world premier of Marvin’s last musical THE NUTTY PROFESSOR (directed by the legendary Jerry Lewis), for which she won the “best leading actress” award in Nashville for her performance.  Marissa has appeared on Broadway in the A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC Revival along side Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury (Original Cast Recording), BONNIE AND CLYDE (Original Cast Recording) and  LES MISERABLES (Revival and National Tour) where she performed both the roles of Eponine and Cosette, as well as ROBBER BRIDEGROOM at The Roundabout Theatre Company. Favorite regional roles include CHESS at the Kenedy Center, Heather in the World Premiere of HUMAN ERROR at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts, Magnolia in SHOW BOAT at the Asolo Repertory Theatre, Maria in THE SOUND OF MUSIC with the Lyric Theatre, Petra in A Little Night Music at American Conservatory Theatre (Theater Bay Area Award for Outstanding Actress), Guinevere in CAMELOT and Mary Jane in BIG RIVER at the Goodspeed Opera House, Johanna in SWEENEY TODD at the Geva Theater and Adelaide in Guys and Dolls, Marian in The Music Man and  Philia in …FORUM at the WESTON PLAYHOUSE. Television: Major Crimes (TNT), Odd Mom Out (BRAVO). Concert work includes Lincoln Center (tribute to Marvin Hamlisch, directed by Mike Nichols) Susan in Sweet Smell of Success in Concert (Hudson Theater NYC), Guest Soloist with Indianapolis Symphony, Naples Philharmonic, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Omaha Symphony, Houston Symphony, Kalamazoo Symphony, Phonecia Festival of the Voice, New Albany Symphony, Annapolis Chorale, Alpine Theatre Project, and the  American Cancer Society Marvin Hamlisch tribute at the Hudson Theater in NYC. As a teacher, Marissa has taught master classes all across the country and has a roster of private students in the NYC area. Marissa grew up on Long Island and then attended Syracuse University, where she received a BFA in musical theater. wwww.marissamcgowan.com

Michael Mendez originated the role of Fatty Arbuckle in the Broadway Production of Chaplin, directed by Warren Carlyle, and is featured on the Original Broadway Cast Recording.  Mr. Mendez also originated the role of Olaf in FROZEN: A Musical Spectacular for the Disney Wonder, directed by Tony-nominee Sheryl Kaller. Other New York Credits include  Hey, Look Me Over! at City Center Encores! featuring Joel Grey, Vanessa Williams, and Bebe Neuwirth, as well as the Off Broadway musical FAT CAMP.  Most recently, Mr. Mendez appeared as the Innkeeper in Man of La Mancha at the Westport Country Playhouse. Other Regional credits include: How The Grinch Stole Christmas at The Old Globe, Damn Yankees at Goodspeed Opera House, Peter and the Starcatcher at Weston Playhouse, Billy Elliot at North Carolina Theatre, The Full Monty at American Music Theater of San Jose, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolored Dreamcoat at ACT of Connecticut, and Paquito’s Christmas at the Kennedy Center. Mr Mendez has appeared in numerous concerts and readings throughout New York City. BFA in Musical Theater from The University of Arizona. IG:@mendezzzz

Canadian cellist Caroline Stinson has performed recitals and chamber music on leading stages in the U.S., Europe, and Canada, including Zankel Hall, the Gardner Museum, the Smithsonian, the Koelner Philharmonie, Lucerne Festival and Cité de la Musique in Europe; and the Centennial Centre in Canada. Beginning fall of 2018 she has been appointed Cellist of the Ciompi String Quartet and Associate Professor of the Practice at Duke University.
Ms. Stinson has commissioned and premiered dozens of works from solo cello to concerti and has worked closely with Pierre Boulez, Elliott Carter, John Corigliano, John Harbison, Shulamit Ran, Esa-Pekka Salonen, Steven Stucky, Joan Tower and Andrew Waggoner. Caroline was a member of the Cassatt Quartet from 2000 to 2003 and was a member of the Lark Quartet from 2009 to 2018, with whom she recorded, travelled and taught extensively. Caroline’s solo CD Lines appears on Albany Records and she appears on close to twenty chamber music recordings on Albany, Naxos, Koch, and Bridge Records.
At the Juilliard School, Caroline was an assistant to Joel Krosnick and taught cello and chamber music in the Pre-College Division between 2008 and 2018; she taught cello and chamber music at Syracuse University from 2004 to 2013 and has given masterclasses across North America, Mexico and Europe. Born in Edmonton, Ms. Stinson studied with Tanya Prochazka and Alan Harris at the Cleveland Institute of Music, Maria Kliegel at the Hochschule für Musik, Köln in Germany, and Joel Krosnick at Juilliard, where she received the Artist Diploma. Together with her husband, Andrew Waggoner, Ms. Stinson directs the Weekend of Chamber Music in the Upper Delaware River Valley.
To learn more about this musician, visit: www.carolinestinson.com