Versatile Sykes joins symphony for performance

The singer has a wide
repertoire.

THE VINDICATOR

YOUNGSTOWN — Jubilant Sykes, a baritone singer who draws on gospel and jazz influences, will join the Youngstown Symphony Orchestra and conductor Randall Craig Fleischer in a concert Saturday at Powers Auditorium.

The versatility of the California-born Sykes has fostered many musical recordings and collaborations. “Jubilant,” brought the singer together with jazz trumpeter and composer Terence Blanchard. His recording “Wait For Me” featured classic songs by Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan and the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson.

In concert, Sykes performs with his jazz trio Side Street. His repertoire ranges from Copeland’s “Old American Songs” to Mendelssohn’s “Elija”; from Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, and Brahms’ “A German Requiem” to Mozart’s “Requiem.” He has performed concert versions of Bizet’s “Carmen” and Cavalli’s “Calisto” and such musical theater roles as “Porgy and Bess” and “The Bloomer Girl.”

Sykes’ will perform Copeland’s “Old American Songs,” a collection of songs the composer derived from minstrel, religious music and folk songs including the “Shaker Simple Gifts,” “Ching-a-Ring Chow” and “I Bought Me A Cat.”

The Youngstown Symphony Orchestra will present Dvorak’s celebrated Symphony No. 9, better known as “The Symphony From the New World.” Inspired by Negro spirituals, the second movement of the Symphony would later be come William Arms Fisher’s “Goin’ Home,” which is now as famous as the original. The orchestra will begin the evening with Adams’ “Short Ride on a Fast Machine.”