Phipps Conservatory Presents a Night of Holiday Music Led by Classically Trained Tenor Colin Aikins
For Immediate Release: Mon., Nov. 18
Contact: Joe Reed | Director of Marketing and Communications
412-622-6915, ext. 3801 | jreed@phipps.conservatory.org
Phipps Conservatory Presents a Night of Holiday Music Led by Classically Trained Tenor Colin Aikins
Enjoy a Showcase of Merry Melodies and a Stroll Through Phipps Holiday Magic
Pittsburgh, PA – Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens is proud to present Winter Wonders and Cool Carols: An Evening with Colin Aikins on Wed., Dec. 18, with performances at 6 and 8 p.m. Attendees will embrace a night of music and fun that will bring even more holiday spirit to the gleaming glasshouse decked out with holiday displays.
This one-night-only performance features Colin Aikins, a classically trained tenor currently studying vocal performance at the Juilliard School. As a native Pittsburgher, Colin is thrilled to return to his hometown to share his passion for music. Colin will be joined by professional pianist James Lesniak.
Tickets include a 60-minute performance in Phipps’ Special Events Hall and Conservatory admission, so guests can explore Phipps Holiday Magic. Guests can also stop by Café Phipps to purchase wine and refreshments after the show. Tickets to Winter Wonders and Cool Carols are $40 for adults and $25 for children. Phipps members will receive a discount once tickets are added to the cart.
For more information and to register, visit phipps.conservatory.org.
###
About Colin Aikins: Colin Aikins, a heralded tenor from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania possessing “command and fervor in the voice” (NPR, WHYY, Philadelphia), is currently pursuing is Masters in Vocal Performance at the Juilliard School under the tutelage of William Burden where he received the prestigious Toulmin Foundation Scholarship. Colin was awarded his bachelors degree at the Curtis Institute of Music where he studied with Julia Faulkner of the Chicago Lyric Opera. His performances have been described as “supernal”, “unforgettable” and “for which… words are no match” (Voce di Meche). Andrea Bocelli told the Pittsburgh Tribune Review that Aikins was “a young man of great talent and a very promising voice”. Most recently, he made his role debut as Alfredo from Verdi’s La Traviata with City Lyric Opera. For the Juilliard School he performed the roles of Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, Jimmy O’Keefe in Later the Same Evening, was a soloist in King Arthur with Juilliard415, along with performing in several recitals including Juilliard Songfest by Brian Zeger, New York Festival of Song by Steven Blier, and Liederabend under the direction of Pierre Vallet. Colin was featured in many productions for the Curtis Opera Theater including Mr. Upfold in Albert Herring, Chavalier de Danceny in Dangerous Liaisons, Nate in Highway 1 USA, the Beadle in Sweeney Todd, the Trio in Trouble in Tahiti and was Fenton in Falstaff for the Aspen Opera Center. Colin has received numerous awards including being named a 2023 Schwab Vocal Rising Star, a winner in the 2021 Hal Leonard Vocal Competition, a 2018 Vocal Finalist in the National Young Arts Competition, a 2018 NPR From the Top Finalist, a 2017 Classical Singer Vocal Competition National First Place winner, and First Place in the 2015 Schmidt Vocal Competition at the National Opera Center in New York City. Colin’s ambition is to reveal to audiences the enthralling and extraordinary potency of opera, merging the legacy of its legends with a contemporary perspective.
About James Lesniak: A native of Kenosha, Wisconsin, James Lesniak joined the Pittsburgh Opera music staff in 2006. After initial studies with Sheila Wiesztort, he received his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees at Indiana University, where he studied with pianists Menahem Pressler, Karen Shaw, and Evelyne Brancart, with the mentorship and influence of Nicolas Larin. His university credits include music staff work for Mississippi State University and the Indiana University Opera Theatre. Further studies included an apprenticeship with the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera for two seasons, where he gave his stage debut in the non-singing/piano playing role of Lazinski in Fedora at the Kennedy Center, accompanying Plácido Domingo in the opera. In addition, Mr. Lesniak has served on the coaching staff of Brevard Music Center, Glimmerglass Opera, Washington National Opera at the Kennedy Center and the National Symphony. He has been an official pianist for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont National Council Auditions, and also made his conducting debut in 2017 with Pittsburgh Opera’s production of composer Laura Kaminsky’s As One, and conducted Pittsburgh Opera’s productions of Glory Denied, The Rose Elf, and most recently, Proving Up. For the summer months, he frequently returns to the music staff of the prestigious Santa Fe Opera, where he has served as Musical Director for their Winter Concert Tour and was on the music staff for the Grammy Award winning production of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs.
About Phipps: Founded in 1893, Phipps Conservatory and Botanical Gardens in Pittsburgh, PA is a globally recognized green leader with a mission to inspire and educate all with the beauty and importance of plants; to advance sustainability and promote human and environmental well-being through action and research; and to celebrate its historic glasshouse. Encompassing 15 acres including a historic 14-room glasshouse, 23 distinct indoor and outdoor gardens and industry-leading sustainable architecture and operations, Phipps attracts more than half a million visitors annually from around the world. Learn more at phipps.conservatory.org.
Phipps is proud to be a 2024 recipient of the National Medal for Museum and Library Service, the nation’s highest honor given to museums and libraries that make significant and exceptional contributions to their communities.
Watch TEDx: What We Can Learn From an Old Glasshouse: A look at the evolving way we connect people to nature at Phipps, demonstrate how human and environmental health are inextricably connected, and show that to age gracefully, we must continually reinvent ourselves to evolve with the rest of the world.
