BIOGRAPHIES

Sidney Outlaw, baritone
Lauded by The New York Times as a “terrific singer” with a “deep, rich timbre” and the San Francisco Chronicle as an “opera powerhouse” with a “weighty and forthright” sound, Sidney Outlaw was the Grand Prize winner of the Concurso Internacional de Canto Montserrat Caballe in 2010 and continues to delight audiences in the U.S. and abroad with his rich and versatile baritone and engaging stage presence. A graduate of the Merola Opera Program and the Gerdine Young Artist Program at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, this rising American baritone from Brevard, North Carolina recently added a GRAMMY nomination to his list of accomplishments for the Naxos Records recording of Darius Milhaud’s 1922 opera trilogy, L’Orestie d’Eschyle in which he sang the role of Apollo.
​
Last season for Mr. Outlaw included his Dandini in La Cenerentola with Greensboro Opera, appearances with the Charlotte Symphony, the Bridgehampton Chamber Music and Colour of Music Festivals, his Spoleto Festival debut as Jake in Porgy and Bess, and Madison Opera’s Opera in the Park. The 2016-2017 season includes Mercutio in Roméo et Juliette with Madison Opera, Vaugh Williams’ Dona nobis pacem with the Memphis Symphony Orchestra, a recital with Warren Jones, and a return to the New York Philharmonic.
​
Mr. Outlaw has been a featured recitalist with Warren Jones at Carnegie Hall and performed Elijah with the New York Choral Society. He traveled to Guinea as an Arts Envoy with the U.S. State Department, where he performed a program of American music in honor of Black History Month and in remembrance of Dr. Martin Luther King.
​
Mr. Outlaw made his English National Opera debut in the 2011-12 season as Rambo in The Death of Klinghoffer and joined the Metropolitan Opera roster in 2014-2015 also for The Death of Klinghoffer. Recent engagements include Dallapiccola’s Il Prigioniero with the New York Philharmonic, Schaunard in La bohème with the Ash Lawn Festival, and Guglielmo in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte with North Carolina Opera. Other mainstage roles include Figaro in Il barbiere di Siviglia with Atlanta Opera, the title role in Moses with the American Symphony Orchestra, Malcolm in Malcolm X at New York City Opera, Prince Yamadori in Madame Butterfly at Opera on the James, the cover of Dandini in La Cenerentola with Florida Grand Opera, Ariodante in Handel’s Xerxes and Demetrius in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream for the International Vocal Arts Institute, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte and a sensational international debut as Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, in both Germany and Israel.
​
A sought-after concert singer and recitalist, Mr. Outlaw made his Schwabacher Recital debut at the San Francisco Opera center with pianist John Churchwell and collaborates regularly with renowned pianists Warren Jones, Carol Wong, Steven Blier, and Michael Barrett. His concert and recital appearances include debuts of renowned works at major concert halls: Haydn’s The Creation and Handel’s Messiah at Carnegie Hall, Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 at Avery Fisher Hall, Mahler’s Lieder eines Fahrenden Gesellen with Music Academy of the West and “Wednesday At One” at Alice Tully Hall, John Stevens in the world premiere concert of H. Leslie Adam’s opera Blake at the prestigious Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in Harlem, and the world premiere of Wayne Oquin’s A Time to Break Silence: Songs inspired by the Words and Writings of Martin Luther King, Jr., commissioned by The Juilliard School.
​
Mr. Outlaw won 2nd Prize in the Walter W. Naumburg Foundation’s International Competition, 2nd Prize in the 2011 Gerda Lissner Foundation Awards, National semi-finalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, semi- finalist in the Francisco Viñas International Singing Competition, finalist in both Concours International Musical de Montreal and George London Foundation, and grand prize in the Florida Grand Opera/YPO Vocal Competition. He holds a Bachelor in Music Performance from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a Master of Vocal Performance from The Julliard School.
​

Dr. Myron Brown, pianist
A native of Birmingham, AL, Myron D. Brown developed a love for music at an early age. He began studying piano with the late Mrs. Patricia Ard Williams, who presented him in his first full, public recital at age eleven. Since then, he has had the privilege to play for such notable people as actress Lynda Carter (the original Wonder Woman), television hostess Kathie Lee Gifford, and two former Miss Americas, Heather Whitestone and Phyllis George.
In 2008, he was selected as the winner of the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s “Piano Idol” competition. Shortly afterward, he made his professional debut as a soloist with the late Erich Kunzel and the Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Dr. Brown has also been a guest artist on the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra’s Classical Roots and Young People’s concert series. He has also been featured as a soloist three times with the Red Mountain Chamber Orchestra and twice with the Winston-Salem Symphony. In October 2013, Dr. Brown presented solo and chamber recitals as part of the inaugural Colour of Music Festival, in Charleston, SC. In 2015, he was invited to the festival once again, performing in the Ebony & Ivory Piano Series. Dr. Brown has become a champion of multi-piano literature. He has performed in the Roomful of Pianos showcase at the NAMM Show every year since its inception. This annual event, which first took place in 2018, features repertoire which has been specifically arranged for performance up to thirty pianists at once.
In addition to his classical piano training, Dr. Brown has always had a passion for gospel music. He has been actively involved in the music ministry of several churches throughout his life, and has had the opportunity to share the stage with gospel recording artists such as Tramaine Hawkins, BeBe & CeCe Winans, Crystal Aikin, Dorinda Clark-Cole, Kirk Franklin, Joshua Rogers, Richard Smallwood, and Jason Nelson. Dr. Brown serves as pianist in the music ministry of Union Baptist Church, in Winston-Salem, NC. He also serves as Minister of Music of the Western North Carolina Chapter of the Gospel Music Worship of America.
Dr. Brown is an active contributor to the music community at large. He can be frequently found presenting recitals, adjudicating competitions, or providing music at various events. Dr. Brown has served as a board member and Student Recital Coordinator of the Intercollegiate Music Association since 2012, and he served as the President of the Winston-Salem Piano Teachers’ Association from 2017 until 2023. Additionally, Dr. Brown has been recognized as a Nationally Certified Teacher of Music by the Music Teachers’ National Association.
Dr. Brown was a recipient of the Sarah & Robert Flemister Scholarship from Birmingham-Southern College, where he studied piano with William DeVan. He received his Master’s degree from the University of Houston’s Moores School of Music, under the instruction of Ruth Tomfohrde. He earned the Doctor of Musical Arts degree from the College-Conservatory of Music at University of Cincinnati, where he studied with both Elisabeth and Eugene Pridonoff. Dr. Brown is currently Professor and Chair of the Department of Music at Winston-Salem State University, where he joined the faculty in 2010. He also serves as the faculty advisor of the WSSU Inspirational Voices Gospel Choir and the chair of WSSU’s Lyceum Cultural Events Committee.

Aliyah Busby, soprano
Aliyah Busby is a junior vocal performance major at North Carolina Central University. Born and raised in Orangeburg, South Carolina, Aliyah takes pride in her Southern heritage and believes it is why she has devoted her life to music. In her three years at NCCU, Aliyah has been granted several musical opportunities. For which each she is exceedingly grateful! In the Fall of 2021, Aliyah began her musical journey at NCCU by joining the university choir. Most recently, the choir was featured at the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Commemoration at Duke University, where they performed Roland Carter’s powerful arrangement of “Lift Every Voice And Sing”. Also, in April 2023 under the direction of Maestra D’walla Burke Aliyah participated in a choral performance of Rosephanye Powell’s exquisite masterpiece, “The Cry of Jeremiah” at Carnegie Hall. This Easter Sunday performance featured amazing choirs and vocal ensembles from around the world! Since being a dedicated member of the University Choir Aliyah has participated in many other performances as well, such as spring and fall commencement exercises, church performances, collaborative performances, NCCU Founder’s Day programs, and a fall concert entitled “Over My Head, I Hear Music in the Air” under the direction of Roberta Laws and arrangements and accompaniment by Grover Wilson.
Furthermore, some of Aliyah’s solo performances include the National Anthem at the NCCU Founder’s Day Program in November 2023, “Dear Old NCC” - Roland Carter for the NCCU Foundation in February 2023, “Care Selve”- Handel, for the Coalition for African American Performing Artists (CAAPA) masterclass series September 2022 with music mater Justin Michael Austin, and a Mid-day Interlude performance of “Ride Up in the Chariot” - Betty Jackson King at the annual National Association of Negro Musicians (NANM) convention in Atlanta, Georgia July 2022. Where she also attended a masterclass and various performances that highlighted all areas of music.
In addition to the many performances Aliyah has participated in, Aliyah also excels in her academics. With a 3.2 GPA, Aliyah was awarded for her academic rigor in April 2023. With certificates for High Academic Achievement in Music and Outstanding Vocal Musicianship in the Department of Music, from North Carolina University. Aliyah will be graduating in May 2025 with a bachelor's degree in vocal performance and wishes to complete her master’s degree in vocal music!

Jessica Cotton, soprano
Jessica Cotton is a 19-year-old soprano from Jacksonville, North Carolina. She is a sophomore and Emerging Talent in Voice Scholar at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Pursuing degrees in broadcast journalism and vocal performance, she studies with Dr. Jeanne Fischer as her voice teacher.
Apart from her academic pursuits, Jessica is also a member of UNC’s co-ed a cappella group, the UNC Walk-Ons. She performs with them often and has arranged numerous songs for the group. In her time thus far at UNC, Jessica has been in the chorus of Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel and looks forward to singing the role of Paolino in Cimarosa’s Il matrimonio segreto in the Spring 2024 semester.

Lincoln Crosby, tenor
Lincoln Crosby is a high school senior at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, studying classical voice with Phyllis Pancella. He has participated in competitions such as The Classical Music Stars competition in which he received an honorable mention, and multiple choir festivals, including NCMEA Honors Chorus and the Mars Hill Choral festival.

Eden Howard, soprano
Eden Howard is a second year Honors Vocal Music Performance student from Charlotte, North Carolina who currently studies at North Carolina A&T State University. She is a soprano who loves singing all kinds of music ranging from arias, musical theater, and spirituals, all the way to pop, modern gospel, and R&B. She is heavily involved in an array of campus activities including the NCA&T Honors College, the University Choir, the University Jazz Ensemble, Aggies for Natural Living and Consumption, and is the founder of a new organization, Sisters in Christ Collective. Eden works with many musicians on her campus and her goal is to become a recording artist and make a tangible change within the music industry.

Wyatt Johnston, baritone
Wyatt Johnston is a 19-year-old classical Baritone from York, SC. He studied vocal performance for his Junior and Senior year of high school at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities with Thomas Dickinson. He has performed as a member of the Piedmont Opera Chorus for operas such as Il Trovatore and La Traviata. Wyatt Currently studies vocal performance with Dr. Marilyn Taylor at UNC school of the arts.

Brianna Shellman, mezzosoprano
Brianna Shellman is a first-year undergraduate voice major at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts who has been singing and doing musical theater since middle school. Ms. Shellman has participated in school choruses and honor choir, spent summers in Savannah’s Children's Choir, and performed with the Savannah philharmonic and Hilton Head choir. She is a student of Phyllis Pancella.

Ella Shynett, mezzosoprano
Ella Shynett, mezzo soprano, is a sophomore pursuing a Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance at North Carolina Central University, where she is a voice student of Roberta Laws, and a Chancellor’s Scholar. Recent appearances include a set of chamber music on A Yiddish Songfest in Durham, NC, as a member of the ensemble of Verdi’s La Traviata with Opera Wilmington, and in a masterclass with Lawrence Brownlee. As a member of the NCCU University Choir, Shynett performed at Carnegie Hall this past April in Rosephanye Powell’s The Cry of Jeremiah. Other performances include the role of Sandman in Hansel and Gretel as a member of Opera Wilmington’s Opera Camp, and as a member of the Opera Wilmington’s children’s chorus in Bizet’s Carmen, Strauss’ Die Fledermaus and Puccini’s La Bohème.