Jamison Walker, tenor and Mark Markham, piano

Jamison Walker is a versatile and accomplished vocalist with a commanding vocal range and an extensive repertoire spanning opera, oratorio, musical theater, and pops. With performances in recital, opera, symphonic, and academic settings, he has captivated audiences nationally and internationally across the United States, Europe, and Asia.

Walker has recently performed roles such as Rodolfo and Luigi in Puccini’s La Bohème and Il Tabarro, the title role in Mozart’s La Clemenza di Tito and Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, the title roles in Gounod’s Faust and Romeo et Juliette, as well as Leoncavallo’s Canio in Pagliacci.

In his recent solo concerts and oratorio performances, Walker has showcased a diverse repertoire, including the North American premiere of Erik Esenvalds' The Passion according to Luke, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony and Choral Fantasy, Rossini’s Petite Messe Solennelle, Rachmaninoff’s Vespers, Bach’s St John’s Passion and Magnificat, Stainer’s The Crucifixion, and Bruckner’s Te Deum. His mastery of these works highlights his versatility and artistry as a leading tenor.

Prior to pursuing his musical education, Walker served as a Counterintelligence Agent and a soloist in the U.S. Army Bands, where he performed in numerous venues for the Signal Center of Excellence at Fort Gordon. This unique background adds depth and richness to his artistic journey, reflecting a dedicated pursuit of excellence both on and off the stage.

Pianist Mark Markham is best known around the world for his partnership with the soprano Jessye Norman. Starting in 1995 for twenty seasons, they gave nearly 300 performances in thirty countries, including recitals in Carnegie Hall, Chicago Symphony Hall, Davies Symphony Hall in San Francisco, the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam, the Philharmonie in Berlin, La Palau de la Musica in Barcelona, London’s Royal Festival Hall, the Musikverein in Vienna, the Salzburg Festival, Bunka Kaikan in Tokyo, the Seoul Arts Center, the Municipal Theater in Rio de Janeiro, Mann Auditorium in Tel Aviv, the Ancient Theatre of Epidaurus in Greece, the Baalbek Festival at the Temple of Bacchus in Lebanon, and at the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize presentation to President Jimmy Carter in Oslo.

This season with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra, Mr Markham will perform the Concerto for the left hand by Maurice Ravel, honoring the 150th birthday of the great French composer. He will give solo recitals on the Market Square Concert Series in Harrisburg, as well as at the University of West Florida on the Kamerman Piano Series. This fall he will headline a gala fundraiser, “Mark Markham and Friends”, for the Jessye Norman School of the Arts in Augusta, Georgia. He will be joined by soprano Karen Slack and tenor Limmie Pulliam. In February, he and Ms Slack will perform a recital entitled “Dream Variations” for the Lyric Opera of Chicago.

As a soloist Mr Markham has been presented in recital at Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, Market Square Concerts in Harrisburg PA, the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, the Corcoran Gallery in Washington DC, the Spire Series in Baltimore, at First Plymouth Church in Lincoln, and at the Peabody Conservatory for the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award from The Johns Hopkins University in 2017. He has also performed as soloist with the Concert Artists of Baltimore, the Eastern Connecticut Symphony, the Pensacola Symphony Orchestra and Lincoln’s Symphony Orchestra.

Program:

Berg's Sieben frühe lieder

Wagner's Wesendonck lieder

Strauss's Vier letzte lieder