American pianist Clayton Stephenson’s love for music is immediately apparent in his joyous charisma onstage, expressive power, and natural ease at the instrument. Hailed for “extraordinary narrative and poetic gifts” and interpretations that are “fresh, incisive and characterfully alive” (Gramophone), he is committed to making an impact on the world through his music-making.

Growing up in New York City, Clayton started piano lessons at age 7 and was accepted into the Juilliard Outreach Music Advancement Program for underprivileged children the next year, where he attended numerous student recitals and fell in love with music. At the age of 10 he advanced to Juilliard’s elite Pre-College program with the help of his teacher, Beth Nam. At Juilliard he studied with Matti Raekallio, Hung-Kuang Chen and Ernest Barretta. Clayton practiced on a synthesizer at home until he found an old upright piano on the street that an elementary school had thrown away; that would become his practice piano for the next six years, until the Lang Lang Foundation donated a new piano to him when he was 17.

He credits the generous support of community programs with providing him musical inspiration and resources along the way. As he describes it, the “3rd Street Music School jump-started my music education; the Young People’s Choir taught me phrasing and voicing; the Juilliard Outreach Music Advancement Program introduced me to formal and rigorous piano training, which enabled me to get into Juilliard Pre-College; the Morningside Music Bridge validated my talent and elevated my self-confidence; the Boy’s Club of New York exposed me to jazz; and the Lang Lang Foundation brought me to stages worldwide and transformed me from a piano student to a young artist.”

Recent and upcoming highlights include concertos with the Houston, North Carolina, and Cincinnati Symphonies; festival appearances at Grand Teton, Grant Park, and Tippet Rise; recitals at Washington Performing Arts at the Kennedy Center, Foundation Louis Vuitton, and Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall; gala performances with the New York and Las Vegas Philharmonics; and collaborations with violinists Nikki and Timothy Chooi. He also joins the Hartford Symphony Orchestra as 2024–2025 Artist-in-Residence.

Clayton graduated from the Harvard-New England Conservatory (NEC) dual degree program in spring 2023 with a bachelor’s degree in economics at Harvard and a master’s degree in piano performance at NEC under Wha Kyung Byun. In addition to being the first Black finalist at the Van Cliburn International Piano Competition in 2022, he received an Avery Fisher Career Grant in 2024,won the inaugural Nina Simone Piano Competition in 2023, and is a 2025 Sphinx Medal of Excellence honoree.

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.

Delving into their personal stash of vintage synthesizers and rare signal processors, an Electric Avenue show is a true labor of love. They have sailed the high seas with 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 the likes of 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.

Clay Duke – Keys, Vocals

Shannon Pengelly – Guitar, Vocals

Chris Pou – Sound

Kevin Spencer – Lead Vocals, Guitar

Tom Young – Bass, Vocals

Will Groth – Drums

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

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 celebrated for her innovative approach to orchestral leadership and her commitment to standardizing diverse programming in the modern symphonic repertoire. She was recently appointed Music Director of the Santa Monica Symphony and Assistant Conductor of the Pacific Symphony, continuing to build a dynamic and impactful presence across Southern California.

Born in Poland, Pola’s journey began with a strong foundation in performance, leading to Master’s degrees in both cello performance and orchestral conducting. Her dual expertise equips her with a rare perspective—combining the analytical skills of a conductor with the empathetic understanding of a performer.

Pola believes that orchestras should serve as a reflection of the diverse world we live in. She is a committed advocate for thoughtful, inclusive programming that honors a wide spectrum of voices—seamlessly integrating cherished masterworks with compositions by historically underrepresented artists. With a deep sensitivity to narrative and context, she curates programs that invite personal connection and collective reflection. Whether through imaginative repertoire choices, compelling storytelling, or fresh interpretive insight, Pola aims to create concert experiences that are artistically vibrant, emotionally resonant, and genuinely welcoming to all.

Her leadership style is marked by kindness, collaboration, and the ability to inspire musicians of all generations to perform at their best. Whether leading a large-scale symphonic work or rehearsing an intimate chamber ensemble, Pola brings energy and precision that elevates every performance.

Influenced by composers like Joseph Haydn, Krzysztof Penderecki, Jennifer Higdon, and Igor Stravinsky, Pola blends a deep respect for tradition with a spirit of curiosity and openness to new ideas. At the heart of everything she does is a love for sharing music with others.