Elon college, college students and alumni to carry out with Andrea Bocelli | In the present day at Elon

Gretchen Bruesehoff, adjunct assistant professor of music, a number of Elon University college students and an Elon alum will carry out with famed Italian singer Andrea Bochelli throughout his Romanza – 30^th Anniversary World Tour on Friday, Feb. 20 on the Lenovo Center in Raleigh.

The group will carry out as a part of Bocelli’s choral ensemble by way of Bruesehoff’s membership with North Carolina Opera. For every present, Bocelli companions with native organizations to carry out with him, and it will likely be the second time Bruesehoff has carried out with the singer.

“It’s very exciting, and it’s just so special to be a part of something so big,” mentioned Bruesehoff.

When the efficiency wanted 5 extra male voices, three tenors and two bass baritones, Bruesehoff turned to the Elon college students and alumni she knew would have an interest within the expertise.

“I think we should be practicing what we preach to our students,” mentioned Bruesehoff. “And because I perform regularly, they’re able to watch me perform, but it’s not as often they get to perform alongside me. So, to work with me as a colleague through the process is a fun experience for all of us.”

Anthony Hotakainen ’26, Hashini Amarasinghe ’26, George Zemla ’27, JT Loveless ’28, Isaiah Flowers ’28, Michael Mintz ’29 and alumni Travis Foust ‘23 were chosen to perform. As a first-year student, it’s a brand new expertise for Mintz, and his household might be touring from New Jersey to see the efficiency.

“It’s going to be really fun,” mentioned Mintz, an performing, and music in liberal arts double main. “I’ve never done something at this level, especially with other professionals, let alone something with opera. I think this is going to be a life-changing experience and something I will carry with me forever.”

Bruesehoff, together with the Elon college students and alum, have rehearsed with the refrain 5 occasions in Raleigh and can do one full run-through earlier than the present on the Lenovo Center on Friday.

“For some of the students, they don’t have as much experience singing in another language. In this concert, we have to sing in Italian, Latin, and English. I rehearsed with the students from Elon outside of the official rehearsal process,” she mentioned. “I’m an Elon alum as well, and that is what has always drawn me to Elon: the community, the mentoring, the real-life experience that we offer here. Being able to do this together is something that we’ll remember forever.”