Chevalier Lovett – baritone, conductor & pianist, is a native of Winter Park, FL – and has been a lifelong lover of the classical art form. In the past some of the leading roles that Chev has performed has been in: The Merry Widow, Orpheus in the Underworld, The Magic Flute, Ragtime, Dido & Aeneas, Hansel and Gretel, & Trio Baritone (Trouble in Tahiti) prompting one critic to write that Chevalier “…possesses an attractive light baritone voice and dispatched his roles…with verve. His easy way with Bernstein’s syncopations was especially enjoyable”. Chev has been heard as the baritone/tenor soloist in several major works including Handel’s Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore & Coronation Mass, and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass to name a few. As a conductor, some of his conducting highlights include Don Giovanni, Man of La Mancha, Madama Butterfly, Messiah and Verdi’s Requiem. Former artistic director of Opera North, Ron Lushinger said that Chevalier is “…a promising young man…(who) brings a youthful enthusiasm to any task!” Chev has also been an active pianist, accompanying solo recitals for well-accomplished singers and choruses throughout the country, most recently performing at Carnegie Hall as the Associate Director & Pianist for the Jones High School Choral program in the Spring of April 2018.
In the 2017 – 2018 performance season Chev was a special guest judge for Connecticut Opera’s American Opera Idol national voice competition. Chev made his stage debut with Opera Orlando as King Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors where one critic wrote “Perhaps one of the most impressive things about Amahl is its local cast…A highlight among a stellar cast was eponymous night visitors [the Three Kings]…The virtuosity of the trio was matched by the three as soloists, as each brought his own amusing levity in solo passages, which highlighted the fantastical absurdity of the narrative.” As a conductor, Chev played a major role in Opera Orlando’s Spring production of Cinderella as Assistant Conductor to the extraordinary cast and the productions Conductor, Music Director of the Orlando Philharmonic, Maestro Eric Jacobsen. He has also given countless recitals across the eastern US.
Thank you to our Vibrant Family Members and their guests who were willing to take a gently used candle and holder. For the first time members of our community were offered a choice of being good stewards of the God’s creation by being willing to re-use candles and holders during the Christmas Eve services.
A total of 3000 new candles and holders were purchased for the 2018 Christmas eve services. Half of the candles and holders were not used, thus leading us to believe that at least 1000 people took a gently used candle. Next year we hope that more family members will take a previously used candle demonstrating our care of the environment and financial stewardship as well.