In our 2024/25 season opener, four internationally acclaimed singers with Bay Area connections – Laquita Mitchell, soprano; Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano; Nicholas Phan, tenor; and Sidney Outlaw, baritone – join the California Symphony and the 100-member strong San Francisco Conservatory of Music (SFCM) Chorus for a powerful performance of BEETHOVEN’S NINTH. We asked our four soloists to share a little about themselves.
Credit: Zakiyah Caldwell
Where are you from?
Laquita Mitchell, soprano: I was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, and I currently live in Harlem, New York.
Kelley O’Connor, mezzo-soprano: Grew up in Clovis, CA and now based in Napa, CA.
Nicholas Phan, tenor: I grew up in Ann Arbor, MI and have been based in San Francisco, CA for the past decade.
Sidney Outlaw, baritone: I grew up in Brevard North Carolina and current reside in Riverdale, NY.
What 3 words describe the experience of singing Beethoven’s 9th?
LM: Exhilarating, Grateful, Joyous.
KOC: Joy, Unity, Exaltation.
NP: Inspirational, Exhilarating, Joyous.
SO: Inspiring, Exciting, Powerful!
Credit: Ben Dashwood
What is something that our patrons might be surprised to learn about you?
LM: I am a huge tennis fan. I am part of a club on social media and the club posts all the scores from every tennis tournament all over the world at any time of the day, and it’s something I look forward to. Summertime is obviously the most amazing time for tennis and I’m truly looking forward to attending the US Open.
KOC: I’m a huge Formula 1 fan!
NP: One of my favorite things to do to relax is to watch a documentary…my favorite subjects are True Crime, World History, and Politics.
SO: I come from a very musical family. A woman in my family has alway been in church of the ministry of music since my great Grandmother.
Do you play any musical instruments?
NP: I grew up playing the violin, viola, and viola da gamba.
SO: French horn
Were you always focused on becoming a singer? If it hadn’t worked out, what do you think you’d be doing now?
KOC: Singing is what I have always done. My Mom says that my kindergarten teacher said I can sing, so I have been since then! I would probably still be doing something in the arts like Artistic Administration or Teaching.
NP: From the age of 12, I was determined to become a professional musician. Being a string player, my dream was to be the section leader of the second violin seciton of the Chicago symphony (I loved playing inner voices in youth orchestra). However, my nerves made my hands shake, so I was never really able to acheive the musical level I wanted as a violinist / violist. Once I discovered singing, I knew that this was my path forward in music, because I just always felt like I had more control under pressure. So, in short, the only reason I am singer is because I was never really a good enough string player to do it professionally.
SO: From an early age I was focused on being a musician. If it hadn’t worked out I probably would have been a music teacher. Which is what I currently spend my time doing at The Manhattan School of music when I am not on the road performing. Or maybe starting my own music conservatory in the spirt of Jeanette Thurber who started the National Conservatory back in the 19th century in NYC!
What would you say to someone who’s considering coming this concert?
LM: Come with an open mind. Come with your ears open and hearts open. You’ll hear tunes you probably didn’t know before, or you may have heard the tune before and you’ll be excited to know that you’re hearing it in the context of the actual symphony. So if this is your first time, I would say come and experience something brand new. Live performances can be a trip!
KOC: Just let the emotions flow. This piece is the most popular piece of classical music for a reason! No shame in letting the pure joy of hearing it come out.
SO: The Beethoven 9 Symphony is a powerful work that is the culmination of Beethovens life and work. Sometimes it’s often described as the struggle between dark (minor key) and a bright (major key). Enjoy yourself!
Credit: Kia Caldwell
The 24-25 CROWNING ACHIEVEMENTS Season beings with BEETHOVEN’S NINTH, on Saturday, September 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, September 22 at 4 p.m. at the Lesher Center for the Arts in Walnut Creek. Single tickets start at $50 and at $25 for students 25 and under, and include a free 30-minute pre-concert talk starting one hour before the performance. Buy tickets online or call or visit the Lesher Center Ticket Office at 925.943.7469, Wed – Sun, 12:00 noon to 6:00 p.m.
