Baritone Adam Richardson is a celebrated artist known for his captivating performances across opera, concert, and theatre stages. Praised by Opera News for his “gorgeous textured baritone,” Richardson’s career has been marked by a series of impressive achievements and notable debuts.
In the upcoming 2023-2024 season, Richardson is set to make his debut with the Metropolitan Opera in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X in the role of ‘Friend,’ Virginia Opera in Sanctuary Road, and Music Theatre Wichita. Additionally, he will return to Opera in the Heights as Schaunard in La Boheme.
The previous season, 2022-2023, showcased Richardson as he portrayed Yoshio in Hanjo with Catapult Opera, a role he reprised at Teatro Sociale di Trento, Italy. A significant highlight was his house debut with Opera Omaha, where he commanded the title role of Malcolm X in X: The Life and Times of Malcolm X. He was seen in the world premiere of Factotum at Lyric Opera of Chicago and his return to the role of John Mack at Pittsburgh Opera in We Shall Not Be Moved, a work he originated and premiered in 2017. Richardson’s versatility extended to the realm of film, marking his first appearance in the famed “Blue’s Clue’s” franchise with Blue’s Clue’s Big City Adventure.

We don’t get to repeat even one minute of our time here, but what if you could experience all of the youthful energy and sonic celebration that was 1980s New Wave & Radio Pop? Every sound. Every nuance. Every feeling. That’s Electric Avenue.

“If you close your eyes it’s 1985. This band is unbelievable.” Christine Murphy, Manchester, CT

What started out as a one-off party gig has turned into just over a decade-long run, totaling more than 1100 concerts across the US and abroad. An Electric Avenue show is a high energy space that reminds people of a time when they came home from school, put a record on, and listened with open ears and an open heart; conjuring first dates, first cars, prom nights, weekend movies, meeting friends at the mall, while finding a sense of fashion and an identity all their own. At an EA show, 80’s music is as alive and well today as it has ever been. If authenticity is your thing, Electric Avenue meticulously and painstakingly recreates every nuance and flavor of your favorite 80’s songs.

Delving into their personal stash of vintage synthesizers and rare signal processors, an Electric Avenue show is a true labor of love. In fact, Electric Avenue’s sound is so close to that of the original artists that in 2019 Warner Music issued a cease-and-desist for using original artists recordings on their social channels. After hearing the complete live recording of Electric Avenue’s performance, Warner Music issued an apology to the band. Electric Avenue has sailed the high seas with the The Walking Dead Cast, Kid Rock, The Impractical Jokers, Joey Fatone, and Pitbull. In 2019, EA was hand-picked and flown to Asbury Park, NJ to provide the soundtrack for the red carpet launch of the Bruce Springsteen, Gurinder Chadha (Bend it Like Beckham), New Line Entertainment 80’s-centric film, Blinded By The Light. They have had the privilege of being direct support for 80’s legend Pat Benatar, and have been joined on stage by, among others, members of Toto, Player, Talk Talk, and Little River Band. ®

As artists, the musicians in Electric Avenue have had a hand in the sale of over 15 million albums worldwide. They choose to perform these songs because they love them as much as you do. If namedropping is your thing, you may have seen or heard these guys with: Lionel Richie, Paul Simon, Idina Menzel, Daniel Lanois (producer for U2, Peter Gabriel), Brian Blade, Emmy Lou Harris, B-52s, Little River Band, Michael Malarkey (Vampire Diaries), Zac Brown Band, Player, RENT (our singer played Roger Davis from 2001-2004), Paula Cole, Tracy Chapman, Bobby Kimball (Toto) Kristian Bush (Sugarland), Shanice, Edwin McCain, Robbie Dupree, Rita Wilson, Lindsay Ell, Boston, Collective Soul, Mother’s Finest, Sister Hazel, Yanni, Boyz II Men, and more.

Every sound. Every nuance. Every time.

That’s Electric Avenue.

Clay Duke – Keys, Vocals

Eric Frampton – Keys, Vocals

Shannon Pengelly – Guitar, Vocals

Chris Pou – Sound, Production Mgmt

Kevin Spencer – Lead Vocals, Guitar

Tom Young – Bass, Vocals

Will Groth – Drums

ElectricAvenueMusic.com

Facebook.com/ElectricAvenue

Instagram.com/ElectricAve80s

Conductor, Music Director and Pianist Evan Roider maintains an active schedule performing across the United States and abroad.  Equally at home on the symphonic stage and in the pit, he is quickly becoming known as a conductor of great versatility. Currently, he serves as Music Director/Conductor for the National Tour of Wicked, having toured with Les Misérables and Cats. The 2022-2023 season included appearances with Pacific Symphony and The Manhattan Transfer, Tucson Symphony and Pink Martini, and a return engagement with the Greensboro Symphony and Michael Feinstein, celebrating the Judy Garland Centennial. He recently assisted on Pops concerts with the Dallas Symphony, and in 2023-2024, assists on programs with the National Symphony at the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap.  This season, he returns to Tucson Symphony, makes his debut with Sarasota Orchestra, Charlotte Symphony, and Toledo Symphony, and continues to conduct Wicked across North America.

As a Music Director, Evan has led productions of Mack and Mabel, A Chorus Line, Company, Into the Woods, The Music Man, Avenue Q, Spring Awakening, and The Wizard of Oz, among others. He was the Assistant Conductor for Candide at Carnegie Hall with the Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and in 2019, was awarded the Best Music Director award from Broadway World CT for his work on Evita (ACT of Connecticut).  Active in the development of new works, Evan spent two summers at the Eugene O’Neill Theater Center as part of the National Musical Theater Conference as well as the Cabaret & Performance Conference.  In 2014, he served as music director and pianist for Broadway in Ravello (Italy), a production that was broadcast on Italian National Television, and in 2013, he premiered new arrangements of Leonard Bernstein works at Grand Performances Los Angeles.  At Barrington Stage, he was the Associate Music Director for the critically acclaimed production of The Pirates of Penzance, a production the New York Times called, “exhilarating”.

As a pianist, Evan is a strong advocate of new music, having worked with composers Jake Heggie, William Bolcom, Gwyneth Walker, and Ben Moore, among others.  In 2014, he made his debut in China with Cardiff Singer of the World Yang Guang and in 2015, he spearheaded a residency featuring Jake Heggie and Sister Helen Prejean (Dead Man Walking).  He has performed at SongFest, Liederfest, the Indiana University Summer Music Festival, the Amalfi Coast Music Festival, and the New Orleans International Piano Competition Institute, having coached with Graham Johnson, Martin Katz, William Bolcom, Nelita True, John Perry, Margo Garrett, and Aldo Ciccolini, among others.

Evan is a graduate of the College-Conservatory of Music, University of Cincinnati, where he earned a Masters in Orchestral Conducting.  He received the Bachelor of Music from the Hartt School under the instruction of Anne Koscielny and David Westfall.

“Of all that abides here, it’s the consistency of the music direction that impresses the most.”      – Chicago Tribune

“Under the musical direction of Conductor Evan Roider, the orchestration is wonderful and well-balanced.” – MD Theatre Guide

“I am so proud when young musicians initiate a project that addresses the arts, politics and social justice. Evan is doing that.” – Jake Heggie

Matt Mauser is a songwriter, solo artist, pop/rock bandleader, and Sinatra-style crooner, having spent more than two decades onstage and in the writing room. A lifelong resident of Southern California, he was an all-American swimmer during his younger years before shifting his focus to music.

During a local show with his Orange County-based party band, the Tijuana Dogs, he met fellow athlete, Christina. The two married and began raising a family, with Matt pulling triple duty as full-time family man, daytime Spanish teacher, and nighttime musician. He even combined his love of music and academics into a unique educational project, Rockin’ the Class, which taught children the fundamentals of Spanish through a selection of songs Matt had written, performed, and recorded. 

These days, music isn’t just a job; it’s also a source of therapy for Matt, who lost his wife in the January 2020 helicopter crash that also killed NBA great Kobe Bryant and seven others. Kobe hired Matt to create the music for an educational podcast called “The Punies.” Kobe and Christina also worked together, coaching a girls’ basketball team at the Mamba Sports Academy. Their loss was tragic to an entire world of basketball fans, and it was unspeakably tough for Matt. 

With songs like “Lost,” Matt Mauser is once again using his music to teach lessons and inspire joy. Written during the aftermath of Christina’s passing, the song reaches out to those who’ve experienced similar losses in their own lives. Those who grieve don’t have to grieve alone. And Matt Mauser, during the most challenging season of his life, hasn’t lost his ability to bring people together through his melodies, messages, and music.

Darren Lorenzo is a veteran performer, hailing straight from Atlanta, Georgia. Lorenzo has appeared in numerous productions both nationally and internationally. He received his B.A. in Mass Communications at Clark Atlanta University and further trained with Broadway Theatre Project at the University of South Florida, University of Tampa and with Theatre Emory of Emory University. He has wowed audiences with roles on Cruise Ships, headlining in Vegas, multiple regional, Off Broadway, Broadway, National, and International Touring productions of After Midnight, Vegas the Show, Legally Blonde, Saturday Night Fever, Madagascar, Smokey Joe’s Cafe, No Strings, Fosse, Hair, Tony and Tina’s Wedding, Once on This Island, What The World Needs Now, and several Gospel and Motown Tribute tours throughout Europe. In addition to acting and singing, he also works as a writer, producer, teacher, director and performs solo concerts with bands all over the US.

Learn more about Chester here: A MOTOWN CELEBRATION with Chester Gregory (youtube.com)

Chester Gregory is an award-winning singer and actor. He was last seen starring in Motown The Musical as the iconic Berry Gordy.  Broadway credits include Motown the Musical, Hairspray, Tarzan, Cry-Baby and Sister Act. Other credits include August Wilson’s Fences and Two Trains Running. He has toured nationally with Dreamgirls, Sister Act, as well as his one-man show The Eve of Jackie Wilson. Chester has received many awards, including the Jeff Award and a NAACP Theatre Award, and has been presented the key to the city of his hometown of Gary, Indiana and in East Chicago. He has also been chosen as an Honorary State Representative of Indiana and has received an Honorary Doctorate from his alma mater Columbia College Chicago. He is currently producing several projects and recordings. Add him on social media @ChesterGregory and chestergregory.com

Conductor Herb Smith is widely known in both the classical and jazz worlds as an exciting performer who inspires musicians and audiences wherever he goes.  Whether he is performing, conducting, teaching or composing, Herb’s expression of music draws from his multifaceted and dynamic musical experiences from around the world.

Voted “Best Instrumentalist” of Rochester 2022 by City Magazine, Herb currently holds the third trumpet position in the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and the principal trumpet position in the Gateways Festival Orchestra which made their Carnegie Hall debut in April 2022. Herb also serves as principal trumpet in the Gateways Brass Collective, a nationally touring professional brass quintet, sponsored by Conn-Selmer. Being a highly sought after lead trumpeter has afforded Herb the opportunity to play with such notable musicians as Jeff Beck, Aretha Franklin, Natalie Cole, the O’Jays, Johnny Mathis, and Doc Severinsen, to name but a few. He has been a frequent guest soloist with the Buffalo Philharmonic and the Rochester Philharmonic.

Herb’s Freedom Trio (composed of trumpet played through electronics, bass and drums) can be seen in performances around the country. This funky, eclectic group, a frequent guest at the Rochester International Jazz Festival, offers its “idiosyncratic yet charming melodies” (City Magazine) in concerts and festivals around the world.

As a composer, Herb has been commissioned by brass ensembles, high school choirs, jazz ensembles and trumpet ensembles in addition to writing for his jazz trio and the Gateways Brass Collective. Herb’s “The Twelve Tones of Christmas,” composed for trumpet, piano and voice, premiered in Carnegie Hall in 2008. Tony Award winning choreographer Garth Fagan commissioned Herb to write a ballet for his Children’s Ensemble. The resulting forty minute, six part work ranged across many styles, including reggae, classical, jazz and funk.

Herb is a regular guest conductor with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. He frequently conducts the Symphoria orchestra based in Syracuse, NY and currently directs the Eastman Youth Jazz Ensemble. He also guest conducts for All-State and All-County Bands, Orchestras and Jazz Ensembles all across New York State. Herb recently conducted and curated a Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra Brass performance of Copland’s “Fanfare for the Common Man” at a Black Lives Matter rally and a concert honoring Harriet Tubman. This performance united the City of Rochester, the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra and neighborhood churches in honor of Tubman’s bicentennial celebration.

A graduate of the Eastman School of Music, Herb is a trumpet instructor at the Eastman Community Music School. He also leads masterclasses and offers lectures on trumpet technique, endurance and sound production. From universities to elementary schools, Herb is frequently invited to serve as teacher, teaching artist and clinician. He co-founded Herb’s City Trumpets, a program that mentors and teaches trumpet to Black students aged 8 to 17, in partnership with the Rochester City School District.

Sérgio Coelho, an accomplished clarinet player and educator based in Los Angeles, collaborates with prestigious ensembles from around the world such as the Los Angeles Philharmonic, The Cleveland Symphony, Los Angeles Opera, Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra (New Zealand), Toronto Symphony Orchestra (Canada), among others. He performs regularly with chamber music series and festivals like Chamber Music Palisades, South Bay Chamber Music Society, Ojai Music Festival, and Mainly Mozart, to name a few. His talent has been recognized internationally, including winning 1st prize in the AYS and USC Concerto competitions and achieving 3rd prize in the 8th Saverio Mercadante International Clarinet Competition (Italy). Sérgio’s music education journey under mentors like Ms. Luisa Marques, Mr. Nuno Silva, and Mr. Yehuda Gilad has shaped his artistry. Currently, he serves as a dedicated clarinet faculty at Youth Orchestra Los Angeles – Torres and holds the position of principal clarinet in the Bakersfield Symphony Orchestra. His passion for music continues to inspire audiences worldwide.

Pola Benke is a distinguished conductor and cellist, recognized for her dynamic approach and deep commitment to musical excellence. Currently serving as Assistant Conductor for both the Long Beach Symphony and the Riverside Philharmonic, she has quickly risen in the world of conducting, combining her talent and dedication with a profound understanding of musical intricacies.

Born in Poland, Pola’s early immersion in music led her to pursue Master’s degree in cello performance and later, orchestral conducting. This solid foundation, coupled with her passion for music, has shaped her unique artistic vision.

Her early career was marked by significant opportunities, including selection for a prestigious summer program with Maestro Neeme Järvi. This experience was a key milestone, allowing her to further hone her craft. She was also invited to the Dartington Music Festival in England as a Fellow Conductor, where she worked under Sian Edwards, and participated in the esteemed Cabrillo Festival of Contemporary Music, collaborating with Cristian Macelaru. Her recent participation in the Järvi Academy in Estonia, under the direction of Paavo Järvi, further solidified her reputation as a rising star in the classical music community.

As an accomplished cellist, Pola Benke understands the intricacies of musical performance and how to communicate with musicians to achieve the desired artistic interpretation. Her background as a musician has also given her the ability to analyze and interpret scores with a high level of detail, enabling her to lead ensembles with precision and nuance. This knowledge and experience are invaluable assets in the craft of conducting and allow her to bring a unique perspective to her work as a conductor. ”Her leadership results in performances that are both precise and emotionally compelling”.

Pola is also a passionate advocate for contemporary music and frequently collaborates with living composers to premiere new works. She is committed to promoting female artists and often features their compositions in her programs. Her musical influences include Krzysztof Penderecki, Igor Stravinsky, Thomas Adès, Jennifer Higdon, and the renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma. She is currently living in Redondo Beach with her husband and their dog, Bobby.

Carolyn Osborn, violinist, has performed throughout the United States and Europe. From 1982-1985 Ms. Osborn’s performances as part of La Duo Musica took her to the International Competition of the Bayerisch Rundfunk in Munich, where the Duo was selected into the semi-final round.  Carolyn has been a member of both the Capriccio Chamber Players and the Vista Piano Trio, performing in numerous venues around the Southland and Arizona.   She played on the Stotsenberg Chamber Music Series at Pepperdine University in a Horn, Violin & Piano Trio.  In March 1997 she performed a violin-piano recital in which she premiered Fantasy Sonata; The Birthday of the Infanta by Maria Newman.  She has also been a member of the Cuarteto Ysaÿe de Los Angeles, the Ariel Ensemble and a guest artist with the Westlake Chamber Ensemble. She performed with the Westlake Chamber Ensemble at the 1998 annual Music Teachers Association of California (MTAC) Convention. She is active as a judge and adjudicator for many of the music competitions around the southland. Carolyn made a CD of Violin/Viola Duos with her group LuminArias, featuring works by mostly living composers.  

Ms. Osborn has been a member of the San Diego Symphony, the Los Angeles Chamber Orchestra, LA Mozart Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay and the LA Opera Orchestra. She is presently a member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, with whom she has been on tour and made several recordings.  Carolyn was involved in engagements of Phantom of the Opera at the Pantages Theater where she played Concertmaster several times, and she was Concertmaster of the Civic Light Opera of South Bay for many years.  Carolyn has also been Concertmaster for Michael Crawford when he has performed in the southland. Most recently she has played Concertmaster for The San Fernando Valley Symphony, Thousand Oaks Philharmonic and Principal Second in the New Valley Symphony. She is currently Assistant Principal Second of the Long Beach Symphony since 1991, Associate Concertmaster of the Los Angeles Jewish Symphony, Assistant Concertmaster of the Thousand Oaks Philharmonic, Concertmaster of the Burbank Philharmonic and has been Concertmaster of the Downey Symphony for the last 34 years. Carolyn has performed as soloist with the Downey Symphony, most recently the Beethoven Triple Concerto, and the San Fernando Valley Symphony. She has participated in the Oregon Bach Festival, Cabrillo Festival, the Seal Beach Festival, KUSC Sunday’s at Four live broadcasts from the Bing Theater, and the San Luis Obispo Mozart Festival. She was in the 1996 Grammy Award Show on national television, and again as a member of the orchestra of The Three Sopranos, which was televised from Century City in 1996. She was also part of “The Three Tenors Live” Concert in Las Vegas in April 2000. She has performed on many of KCET specials including Monica Mancini, Vicki Carr. She was a member of the violin faculty at Pepperdine University in Malibu until 2002.  

Currently Carolyn is active in the Los Angeles recording studios, most recently working on such movies as “Spiderman: No Way Home, COCO, Frozen 2, The War for The Planet of the Apes, Incredibles 2, Jurassic World, Moana, Star Trek Beyond”, and many others, as well as many other recording and performing opportunities.