Wanganui Music Society welcomes a world-class singer and pianist to perform in Whanganui later this month.
Tenor James Benjamin Rodgers, accompanied by pianist Jillian Zack, returns from New York to perform in the role of Anthony for New Zealand Opera's season of Sweeney Todd.
While he's in New Zealand, Mr Rodgers will come to Whanganui to give a concert at the War Memorial Hall on October 30.
The programme includes songs and arias by Tosti, Tom Cipullo, Schumann, Douglas Lilburn, Tom Lehrer and Stephen Sondheim.
A graduate of the Manhattan School of Music, Mr Rodgers was the Orvis Foundation Scholar and received the Janet D. Schenck Award for his distinguished contribution to the life of the school. He has studied voice with Dr. Robert White, Joan Patenaude-Yarnell, Neil Rosenshein and Emily Mair. He has received a number of awards and scholarships.
Mr Rodgers' debut recording with renowned pianist Kenneth Merrill, titled "Exiled: The Evolution of Kurt Weill", was released in 2014.