The piano man is ready to sing.
Maestro Bill Doherty will leave the piano and step in front of a microphone for this year’s “Three Tenors Plus One” concert on Saturday at 3 and 7 p.m. in The Sharon.
Doherty and the late Oscar Feliu originated the annual concert nearly two decades ago with help from The Opera Club of The Villages. The concert raises money for the Harold S. Schwartz Scholarship fund. Nearly $250,000 has been raised thus far.
This year, for the first time, Doherty will sing at the event. He will be joined by fellow tenors Devin Eatmon and Fanyong Du. Corrine Bach will supply the female voice as plus one. Sean Pollock, Director of Worship and the Arts at New Covenant United Methodist Church, will play piano and conduct.
It’s a bittersweet event for Doherty. He’s happy to sing but also remembers all the years spent working with Feliu and another old friend and mentor, the late Licia Albanese.
“They both passed away in the last couple years,” Doherty said. “And they both still mean a lot to me. I wanted to sing something that would honor them both.”
Doherty will sing “Non ti scordar di me” (Don’t Forget Me). “Oscar used to sing that song and he loved it,” Doherty said.
Most Villagers know Doherty from his work leading Central Florida Lyric Opera, and as music director of St. Timothy’s Catholic Church.
Long before that, Doherty studied opera in New York City, working with Licia Albanese, a famed and beloved soprano with the New York Metropolitan Opera. She died in 2014 at the age of 105.
“She was my mentor and taught me so much,” Doherty said. His singing career took an unexpected turn after he had his tonsils removed while in his mid-20s. During that surgery, his vocal cord was injured, Doherty said, and he couldn’t sing.
Long story short: Doherty left New York, settled in Florida and the rest is Villages’ music history. His vocal cord is fine now and he has been singing for years.
Doherty has a bond with the other two tenors on the bill.
Devin Eatmon graduated from the Villages High School. Eatmon is a former winner of a Schwartz scholarship, who studied under Doherty.
“Devin has immense talent and it’s a joy to sing with him,” Doherty said.
Doherty discovered Fanyoung Du a couple of years ago at an opera competition in New York. “I was a judge and he was so impressive,” Doherty said. Du recently performed in The Villages and earned a standing ovation.
Soprano Corinne Bach has performed with Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban. She has also appeared with the Master Chorale of Tampa Bay and the Florida Orchestra.
