Lawrence Brownlee Takes a Moment to Thank the Choir

Tenor Brownlee now sings solo.
(Photo: Marty Umans)

"Brownlee, who has performed with Cincinnati Opera and the Cincinnati Symphony, will make his May Festival debut in Mendelssohn's "Elijah" on Saturday in Music Hall. None of this could have happened, said the 38-year-old Ohio native, without his high school show choir at Youngstown East High School. 'I'm a very proud Buckeye,' said the tenor by phone from Toronto, where he was singing the role of the Prince in Rossini's bubbly opera, La Cenerentola (Cinderella). 'We had a very good high school music program. Because of my exposure to classical music, it opened up so many experiences to me.' The high school show choir made him realize there was a world outside of Youngstown." [Source]