Soloist with "A Spiritual Messiah"

Soloist with “A Spiritual Messiah”

Cherry Duke is a frequent guest artist with orchestras and ensembles in classical and pops concerts around the US, including appearances in Manhattan at Carnegie Hall and Avery Fisher Hall. Cherry also tours as a soloist with the renowned American Spiritual Ensemble, a unique troupe of world-class singers committed to keeping the Negro Spiritual alive.

Recent & Upcoming:

  • Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony, El Paso Symphony Orchestra, April 2016, Missouri Symphony Society, June 2016, Symphoria, April 2014
  • Respighi’s Lauda per la Nativita, Choral Society of the Hamptons, December 2015
  • Grand Matinee at the Opera, Missouri Symphony Society, July 7,  2014
  • MessiahUniversity of Virginia, April 12, 2014
  • Ralph Vaughan Williams’ Hodie, Canterbury Choral Society, Dec. 7, 2014

Reviews

Rossini’s STABAT MATER

Soprano II soloist in Mozart’s GRAND MASS IN C, Hamptons Choral Society

“The limpid and meditative tone of Cherry Duke, the mezzo-soprano, created beautiful arching melodic lines in the cavatina—riding Latin’s open vowels over the waves of sound from the orchestra.

“As she floated upward on the word ‘recolere’ (‘remember’), one could not help but be drawn into the space of the Old Whalers Church and its history—imagining its maritime parishioners, perhaps Rossini’s contemporaries, and their daily lives and work in a less accelerated and jittery world. This lyrical and delicate section was drawn to a close by Ms. Duke’s mesmerizing and ghostly pianissimo.”

bACH’S b-minor mass

Alto soloist in Jenkins’ THE ARMED MAN with Distinguished Concerts International NY at Avery Fisher Hall

“The most remarkable of the five [soloists] was mezzo Cherry Duke, who stepped in at the last minute…Duke learned the piece in a day or two, but her radiant, confident performance gave no hint of any of that.”

Jerome Kern & Friends Concert

“Mezzo-soprano Cherry Duke took command of [Climb Every Mountain] delivering its inspirational message with power.”

CARMEN in concert

“For the ‘Habanera’ from Georges Bizet’s Carmen, mezzo-soprano Cherry Duke stepped forward as soloist. Her red dress, which had looked perfectly demure so far, suddenly sparkled provocatively—as did her performance of this sultry homage to l’amour.”