United Voices: A Bicentennial Concert
United Voices celebrates CWRU students, faculty, and alumni in a special Bicentennial concert that brings together Broadway brilliance, cinematic favorites, and contemporary wind repertoire in a vibrant, genre-spanning program. Selections from Candide by Leonard Bernstein and Lincoln Portrait by Aaron Copland anchor the evening, alongside beloved classics including “The Man That Got Away,” “Singin’ in the Rain,” and “Over the Rainbow.”
Featured faculty vocalist Joan Ellison lends warmth and star quality to these timeless songs, while modern works such as Blue Night and Unidad et Rítmo add color, rhythmic energy, and a spirit of connection while CWRU Department of Music Musicology Alum Dr. Lady J brings gravitas to Copland's historic homage to Abraham Lincoln as our guest narrator.
Our concert celebrates the power of American composers and music to unite voices across genres and generations.
Dr. Ryan Scherber, Conductor & Director of Bands
Brianna Bell & Bobby Bellairs, Graduate Assistants
Guest Narrator: Dr. Lady J
Known out of drag as J Davenport, Dr. Lady J is a Cleveland-based PhD historian, drag artist, podcaster, curator, and activist specializing in drag performance history. Her scholarship and public work focus on amplifying the contributions of transgender performers, cisgender women, and performers of color, and challenging the historical erasure of marginalized drag communities. [Learn more...]
Featured Vocalist: Joan Ellison
Praised by Michael Feinstein for her “vocal prowess” and “organic grasp of the classic songs,” Joan Ellison is known for reviving the repertoire of Judy Garland from Hollywood films, live concerts, and studio recordings. She has performed more than 80 symphony concerts nationwide and recently made her European debut with Get Happy! A Judy Garland Celebration. Highlights include recreating the legendary Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall program. Joan serves as Editor of the Judy Garland Carnegie Hall Concert Restoration Project and is Teacher of Popular Voice at the Cleveland Institute of Music. [Full bio...]