A collection of love songs, setting the mood for Valentine’s Day, will be performed Sunday by a trio well honed in performance.
The first concert of the Second Sunday Series — sponsored by the Grainger Hill Performing Arts Center — will feature vocalists Antuan Hawkins and Shanda Maddox, accompanied by Timothy Maddox, all accomplished in bringing stage productions alive for audiences.
The Second Sunday Series is designed to attract young and old throughout the extended community with four Sunday afternoon concerts. All proceeds, after expenses, will benefit Grainger Hill.
The performance will be held at the Community Council for the Arts, 400 N. Queen St. Light refreshments will be served.
Shanda Maddox has been performing since age 5. The winner of the National School Choral Award, she has performed at the Opry Land Hotel and in stage performances at the Rivertowne Theater in New Bern, including: “Annie Get Your Gun,” “Radio Gals,” “Nunsense,” “The Wizard of Oz” and “Blithe Spirit.” She also has performed for six years in Lenoir Community College’s “Broadway and Beyond.”
Hawkins is an actor and singer living in Kinston, a staff member at the Kinston-Lenoir County Public Library. He received a Bachelor of Science in music with an emphasis on vocal performance from Chowan College. After graduation, he taught middle school and private music classes, but soon began balancing performances around professional career.
He has serenaded acclaimed opera singer Luciano Pavarotti and shared the stage with Jeff Foxworthy, Jo Dee Messina and Branford Marsalis. He also created the role for “Bailey” in the world premier of Samm-Art Williams’ “Conversations on a Dirt Road.”
Hawkins has performed in off-Broadway productions in New York City, and co-starred in several independent movie projects and in the world premier of “F.I.S.H.,” the musical. More locally, he has performed in “Ain’t Misbehavin’” and produced “The Golden Oldies Radio Show.”
Timothy Maddox is a Kinston native who received his master’s degree in music education from Bob Jones University in Greenville, S.C. He is a music instructor at Lenoir Community College and has worked as a music minister and private piano teacher.
He recently musically directed “Dreamgirls,” “Wizard of Oz,” “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Cabaret” and “Legally Blonde.” He has accompanied numerous shows, including “Broadway after Dark,” “Guys and Dolls,” “26th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee” and “Sleeping Beauty.”
Upcoming shows include: March 10, “Jazz OnStage,” featuring ECU’s Student Jazz Trio; April 14, “Big Band Sounds,” featuring Earl Abernethy and Company (Carol Ann Tucker, vocalist; Jimmy Aycock, pianist, and Dave Adduddel, bass); and May 12, “Variety of Eagles, Country and Bluegrass Selections,” featuring The Ray and Bobby Band.
Grainger Hill Second Sundays premier
‘Love Is in the Air’
3 p.m. Sunday, doors open at 2 p.m.
Community Council for the Arts
400 N. Queen St., Kinston
Presented by the Grainger Hill PAC
Tickets: $10 in advance, $12 at door
Available at arts center
Info: 252-527-2517 or kinstoncca.com; or 252-527-8515, Total Experience