But Walter Huff, my vocal coach and also the genius who makes the Atlanta Opera Chorus put the Met chorus warblers making $32,000 a year doing 40 different operas a week to shame, is the director of music at Morningside Presbyterian near Midtown Atlanta.

Walter has put into place a concert series at Morningside that is one of the best free evenings of good music in town. Tonight was an Evening of Broadway’s best, and for such a simple evening’s entertainment, it doesn’t get much better.

Disclaimer time: it’s true you might see me on one of these-I participated in the one prior to tonight’s Broadway concert, a recital of czech and American Music with soprano Cheryl Wingert-we sang a stentorian duet from Dvorak’s opera Rusalka. Performers don’t do it for pay-they generally do it because they love working with Walter. Part of this disclaimer must also include the fact that a great many of the singers on tonight’s program, for instance, are good friends or at least acquaintances of mine.

All that said, having sung for 20 years now, I think I know entertaining when I see or hear it, and I guarantee you that looking out for the next Morningside Concert Series Recital is worth your time if you love good classical or musical theater-style singing.

For a little blurb of truly shameless self-promotion, read the extended entry, linked below…

(begin shameless self-promotion…)I just got hired to sing for the Huntsville, Alabama Opera Theater’s production of Cavalleria Rusticana and Pagliacci in April, 2005. To sing both of the leading tenor roles in both operas.

Am I feeling like DA MAN? Yes I am. Damn.

(end, shameless self promotion…)