Originally Posted: January 2012
Happy New Year, CSO fans! This weekend ushers in the first Charlotte Symphony concert of 2012, with “Disney In Concert: Magical Music from the Movies.” This show will feature famous Disney songs from The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and The Lion King, among others. Four talented vocalists will perform with the CSO, backed by original storyboard artwork and Disney-produced visuals.
We sat down with the dynamic singers Andrew Johnson and Candice Nichole to get the inside scoop on Disney princesses, how they made it to the top, and what really goes on backstage.
How long have you been singing and performing?
Candice Nichole.: My parents always exposed me to music and theatre when I was a little girl, but it wasn’t until I was about 7 or 8 years old when I really began singing and got involved in community theatre. From there, I began training vocally at the age of 9 and started working professionally for Disney at the age of 11. At 13, I was invited by Maestro Barry Jekowsky to be the guest artist with the California Symphony and from that moment on, I knew for sure that this was my path and what I wanted to do with my life.
What do you love most about the show?
Andrew Johnson.: I love being on stage with my fellow cast members all at the same time. We have such a blast!
C.N.: What I love most about this show is the reactions we get from the audiences we perform for. There is such a love for these Disney classics not only from young children, but all ages. For those of us who grew up watching these Disney movies or whose children or grandchildren did, it’s very nostalgic and a real walk down memory lane for them as they watch the show. For the children of this generation who are still watching these Disney movies because they are so timeless, it’s magical for them. It’s also such a fabulous way to introduce young children to Symphony music because it’s music they can relate to. I think it’s so wonderful that the show appeals to all ages. Ted Ricketts and his wife Sherilyn Draper (Show Director) did such a fantastic job of weaving all these classic songs together in such a beautiful way.