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By Doug Clark

 

Tryon Presbyterian Church is proud to present one of its own, tenor Alexander Harrelson, for a special afternoon of music at 3 p.m. Sunday, August 7.

 

Harrelson, 22, has just returned from Novafeltria, Italy, where he performed the role of Lindoro in a David Ronis production of Rossini’s “L’Italiana in Algeri.” He had the privilege of working with renowned conductor Joseph Rescigno as part of the Montefeltro Festival.

 

Harrelson, the son of Edward and Petra Harrelson of Tryon, appeared in a number of Tryon Little Theater productions, notably as Huck Finn in “Big River” and Robert in “The Drowsy Chaperone.” He began his training as a classical singer at 14, studying with Brenda Quilling.

 

He is a 2021 graduate of Davidson College, where he studied voice with Jacqueline Culpepper. He won a Merit scholarship and attended a YoungArts program in Miami in 2019. In 2020, he was accepted to the Brevard Music Center Summer Institute where he was to perform in several opera productions before the ongoing pandemic ended his plans prematurely. The Tryon native has been accompanied locally by Lesley Bush, Pam McNeil and Dewitt Tipton, with whom he has performed several recitals.  

 

He is entering his second year of pursuing a Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, where he studies voice with Dr. Robert Breault. During his first year, he performed the role of Ferrando in Mozart’s “Così Fan Tutte” as well as Anthony in Sondheim’s “Sweeney Todd.” 

 

In Sunday’s program, Harrelson will be accompanied by Dr. Bush on piano. The concert

will feature opera arias by Puccini, Massenet and Mozart, as well as compositions by Schubert, Dan Forrest and Sondheim. 

 

The concert is sponsored by Tryon Presbyterian Church’s Centennial Commission. The church will celebrate its 100th anniversary on October 23, and it will hold a series of events to mark its ministry in Tryon. The church is located at 430 Harmon Field Road. Sunday’s afternoon of music is free to all.