THE FLORIDA ORCHESTRA | 2019-2020 57
A powerhouse trumpeter,
gifted with a
soulful voice and
a charismatic onstage
swagger, Byron
Stripling has delighted
audiences internationally.
As soloist
with the Boston Pops
Orchestra, Stripling
has performed frequently
under the
baton of Keith Lockhart,
as well as been
a featured soloist on
the PBS television special, Evening at Pops, with
conductors John Williams and Lockhart. Currently,
Stripling serves as artistic director and conductor of
the highly acclaimed Columbus Jazz Orchestra.
Since his Carnegie Hall debut with Skitch Henderson
and the New York Pops, Stripling has emerged
as one of America’s most popular symphony pops
guest artists, performing with the Boston Pops, National
Symphony, Pittsburgh Symphony, Cincinnati
Pops, and Dallas Symphony, to name a few. He has
been a featured soloist at the Hollywood Bowl and
performs at jazz festivals throughout the world.
An accomplished actor and singer, Stripling was
chosen to star in the lead role of the Broadway
bound musical Satchmo. Many will remember his
cameo performance in The Young Indiana Jones
Chronicles and his critically-acclaimed performance
in the 42nd Street production of From Second Avenue
to Broadway. Millions have heard his trumpet
and voice on commercials, theme songs, and
soundtracks.
Stripling earned his stripes as lead trumpeter and
soloist with the Count Basie Orchestra under the direction
of Thad Jones and Frank Foster. He has also
played and recorded extensively with the bands of
Dizzy Gillespie, Woody Herman, Dave Brubeck, Lionel
Hampton, Clark Terry, Louis Bellson, and Buck
Clayton.
Stripling was educated at the Eastman School of
Music and Interlochen Arts Academy. A resident of
Ohio, Stripling lives in the country with his wife,
Alexis, and their beautiful daughters.
Tenor Bernard Holcomb
has “already
made a name for
himself in the world
of opera” with his
“delicate and flexible”
voice (Opera
Wire) and the “appealing
sweetness
and clarity of his
tone” (The New York
Times). Katy Walsh
of Chicago Theater
Beat said it best: “Although everyone at Lyric Opera
of Chicago can sing, Holcomb reminds us why
we come to the Lyric.” This season, Holcomb made
his début with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as
a soloist in Dancing in the Street: The Music of Midtown
and More; performs as a soloist in Broadway
Artists Connection’s Cabaret Benefit and in Oregon
Symphony’s presentation of An African American
Requiem; and performs the role of Sportin’ Life in
Porgy and Bess with Harrisburg Symphony. This
past summer, he returned to Seattle Opera to perform
in their production of Rigoletto, returned to
Long Beach Opera for the world premiere of The
Central Park Five, and performed in Porgy and
Bess in Italy with New York Harlem Productions.
Recent debuts include his Alaskan debut as Captain
Leadbetter in the world premiere of Emerson Eads’
Princess Sophia with Project Orpheus, his Carnegie
Hall debut, his title role debut in Rossini’s Otello in
NYC, and his debut at the Dresden Semperoper in
Porgy and Bess. Other recent engagements include
Lechmere in Owen Wingrave with Little Opera Theater
of NY and Gershwin’s Blue Monday with On Site
Opera. New York theatre credits include Thomas
(lead) in Whiskey Pants: The Mayor of Williamsburg
off-Broadway and Collins in Rent. He also performed
Sportin’ Life in the international tour of
Porgy and Bess and in productions of Company and
Sweeny Todd.
BYRON STRIPLING
Guest Conductor & Trumpet
BERNARD HOLCOMB
Vocalist