Singer, songwriter in the midst of explosive popularity to perform March 31st.
The Oconee Performing Arts Society continues its incredible 15th season with this year's Grammy winner for Best New Artist and Best Jazz Album, Samara Joy, who will be performing on March 31st, 2023.
Joy is the second artist featured in the OPAS Lounge Series, which premiered in 2022 to great acclaim with Grammy winner Catherine Russell. The Lounge Series features world-class artists' performances in the casual and intimate settings throughout Lake Country. The audience loved the "lounge setting," and Russell's inspired and authentic performance.
At just 23 years old, Samara Joy is lauded as the Gen Z singer with the potential to bring the beauty and soul of American music to a new generation. Her popularity is evident from her more than 200,000 followers on TikTok and other major social platforms, as well as her recent appearances on "The Today Show," NPR," "Late Night with Stephen Colbert," and more. Her incredible talent, coupled with her youthful spirit, appeals to fans across ages and genres.
As the winner of the Sarah Vaughan International Vocal Competition, Joy releases her second album, "Linger Awhile" (Vaughn Records), in 2022, which has been nominated for a Grammy Award for Best New Album. The compilation beautifully blends popular, lesser-known, and new songs with Joy's style and exceptional voice that The New York Times describes as having "...precocious depth, creamy tone, and fluttery vibrato..."
Joy grew up surrounded by music. Her father, a singer, songwriter, and producer, toured with gospel artist Andrae Crouch. Her grandparents, Elder Goldwire and Ruth McLendon, performed with the Philadelphia gospel group the Savettes. Music may be in her blood, but Joy's talent is uniquely hers. After years of singing in church, with her high school band, performing in musicals, and eventually enrolling in the SUNY Purchase music department, she bring experience and freshness to her performances.
Doug LeBrecque, OPAS Artistic/Executive Director, has a 30-year career as a performer on Broadway and more than 125 orchestras worldwide. As a result, he has a keen set of eyes and ears for talent and has a knack for spotting rising stars. Samara Joy is no exception. "I first heard her when a colleague sent me her performance via Facebook. Though only 21 at the time, and two years before her meteoric rise, I knew I was witness to something exceptional. Some people have "IT", and there is no explanation required. Her soul pours out of her, decades beyond her actual years. I had a hunch her career would be headed for big things, and we are grateful and excited to bring her unique talent to the OPAS audience.
Tickets to the concert were made available to OPAS Members first and quickly sold out. For concert details or information about becoming an OPAS Member, visit here or give us a call at (706) 467-6000.