Grammy Award winner Mark S. Doss returns to Chicago as soloist in Do-It-Yourself Messiah

Grammy Award winner Mark S. Doss returns to Chicago as soloist in Do-It-Yourself Messiah

CHICAGO, Nov. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ - Global opera star Mark S. Doss is
returning to the Chicago stage next month as the bass soloist in
Handel's Do-It-Yourself Messiah, one of Chicago's most beloved holiday traditions.  Celebrating its 25(th) year, this season's performances take place on December 19 and 20, 2011
at 7:00 p.m. CT at the Harris Theatre for Music and Dance in Millennium
Park.

Mr. Doss arrives in Chicago after starring as Thoas in the Canadian
Opera Company's fall production of Iphigenia in Tauris (Iphigenie en Tauride).  Last month, Mr. Doss received Planet Africa's 2011 Entertainment
Award, recognizing his many achievements over a successful career
spanning more than 25 years in the performing arts, and as a positive
role model for youths. The Grammy Award-winning bass-baritone has
performed over 60 roles with 55 of the world's most prestigious opera
houses, including Milan's famed Teatro alla Scala and The Vienna State
Opera.

"It is extremely rewarding to be returning to Chicago and the
wonderfully collaborative Do-It-Yourself Messiah once again this year," says the Grammy Award-winning performer. "There
is nothing more festive than joining together with a world-class
conductor and soloists, an all-volunteer orchestra of local musicians,
and thousands of people from Chicago and surrounding areas in a
thrilling performance of Handel's masterpiece."

Chicago is proud to think of Mark S. Doss as one of its own.  After
studying at Indiana University with Walter Cassel and Nicola
Rossi-Lemeni, he became an apprentice artist with the Santa Fe Opera,
which led to him becoming a member of what was formerly known as
Chicago's Lyric Opera Center for American Artists.  He has since
delighted Chicago audiences for more than a quarter century, including
performances in 10 seasons at Lyric Opera of Chicago since 1984 as well
as doing concerts and recitals for the Lyric Opera Chapters.  In
addition to past performances of Messiah, Mr. Doss has appeared at Lyric Opera of Chicago as Cinque in Amistad, Alidoro in La Cenerentola (Cinderella) and Escamillo in Carmen.

Following the Do-It-Yourself Messiah in Chicago, Mr. Doss has upcoming performances as the title role in
Wagner's The Flying Dutchman with Teatro Regio Torino in 2012, and The Four Villains in Offenbach's The Tales of Hoffmann with Opera Tokyo in 2013.

You can connect with Mark S. Doss through his Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Mark-S-Doss/78423203990) or follow him @marksdoss on Twitter (http://twitter.com/marksdoss).

ABOUT THE DO-IT-YOURSELF MESSIAH:

Originally intended as an Easter oratorio, Handel's Messiah tells the story of Jesus' birth and life.  Over the years, however, it
has become more popularly associated with Christmas.  The
"do-it-yourself" idea was born at a small church in rural England more
than 30 years ago and was first staged in Chicago in 1976.  Audience
members are seated according to voice range (soprano, alto, tenor,
bass) and sing with a full orchestra and four soloists.

ABOUT MARK S. DOSS:

Mark S. Doss is a celebrated bass-baritone whose accomplishments include
a Grammy Award (1993) for his work on the recording of Semele (Handel),
and numerous engagements with the famous Teatro alla Scala in Milan,
Italy.  Mr. Doss began his musical studies to aid in his ambitions to
become a Catholic priest, but instead found opera to be his true
calling. He has since emerged as one of the opera world's leading
singers.

FURTHER INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
Adam Bello
Publicity office for Mark S. Doss
+ 1 (416) 489-0092
media@marksdoss.com
www.marksdoss.com

NORTH AMERICAN AGENT FOR MARK S. DOSS:
Nick Netos
Alpha Artists
+1 (212) 397-7921
alphaartists@pinnaclearts.com

SOURCE Mark S. Doss

Mark S. Doss

CONTACT: FURTHER INFORMATION AND INTERVIEW REQUESTS:
Adam Bello
Publicity office for Mark S. Doss
+ 1 (416) 489-0092
media@marksdoss.com
www.marksdoss.comNORTH AMERICAN AGENT FOR MARK S. DOSS:
Nick Netos
Alpha Artists
+1 (212) 397-7921
alphaartists@pinnaclearts.com

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