From The Common Good, Outer Banks, Sunday, April 22, 2018
Be captivated by Tshombe Selby when he performs at All Saints Episcopal Church, Southern Shores, Sunday, April 22 at 4 p.m. This event marks the second performance of the sixth season for the Don and Catharine Bryan Cultural Series.
“You may not know the name Tshombe Selby, but if you’ve attended any number of local events over the past few years, you’ve likely heard him sing,” commented Series Chairman John Tucker. “And, wow, can he sing!”
Tshombe Selby is a young man possessing a remarkable vocal talent, and he has repeatedly and graciously volunteered that talent at local events and in support of community causes. His talent and hard work earned him the opportunity for a full year of uninterrupted opera training in New York under the tutelage of operatic trainers Nico and Carol Castel. In February 2015 he sang his first solo at Carnegie Hall in New York. His dream of becoming a professional opera singer came true!
Tshombe Selby is a native of Manteo, North Carolina. His first introduction to music came when he convinced his parents to let him join the youth choir at church. He was five years old. His musical talents and his willingness to share it were recognized immediately. They were recognized not only by the church, but his school, the community and everyone who heard him sing. By age 15 he had become Minister of Music for his church, taught himself to play the piano and had performed at countless school and community events.
After graduating high school, Tshombe received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Music Performance from Elizabeth City State University. While at the University he excelled as a tenor soloist in the University Choir and held the office of choir president for several years. With the choir, Tshombe toured throughout the United States, Africa and performed for NC State Senators and the United States Congress. It was through his experience with the choir that he discovered his love for opera.
In the spring of 2013 Tshombe was invited to apprentice with Nico Castel and his wife Carol Castel of the New York Opera Studio. He worked with the Castels for five months, traveling back and forth between New York City and Manteo. In the fall of 2013, he moved to New York to work with the Castels. Mr. Selby participated in a concert produced by the New York opera studio one which he sang the act one duet from Verdi’s La Traviata. Most recently Mr. Selby sang the role of King Casper in Menotti’s Amahl and the Night Visitors with the Delaware Valley Opera. Tshombe is currently working on the role of Count Almaviva in Rossini’s The Barber of Seville.
Tickets are $15 and are available online at bryanculturalseries.org. They are also available at: Duck’s Cottage Coffee & Books, 1240 Duck Rd., Duck; Duck’s Cottage Downtown Books, 105 Sir Walter Raleigh St., Manteo; Gray’s Department Store, 3860 N. Croatan Hwy., Kitty Hawk; and Sea Green Gallery, 2404 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head.
Free admission is available for students. For more information email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or call or text (252) 564-9767.
The Bryan Cultural Series is a non-profit organization formed in 2012. The board of directors is composed of nine community leaders dedicated to offering a series of high quality cultural events. These events will include a variety of visual, literary and performing arts. The board strives to glean from talent that has attained regional as well as national recognition to maintain a high standard. , sponsorships, grants and admissions.
Substantial support for this annual cultural offering of events is provided by Towne Bank of Currituck, Village Realty, Ramada Plaza Hotel of Kill Devil Hills and Hilton Garden Inn of Kitty Hawk. The Outer Banks Community Foundation manages the endowment for the Series. For more information about these events, visit bryanculturalseries.org.
