Her Story: A Gravity Concert Experience
Friday, August 11 │ 8:00pm Free Event
Experience the ultimate live opera concert at Gravity!
Join Opera Columbus, Gravity, and OBLSK for a free, unique all-round show featuring Video, Opera, and mesmerizing lighting. Don’t miss this extraordinary evening under the stars, where opera meets projection mapping. Bring your Opera-Curious friends along!
This production will be performed in various languages.
Doors open at 8:00pm. Performance begins at 9pm.
#HerStoryOC
What’s Interesting About This Opera…
- Her Story: A Gravity Concert Experience will feature some of your favorite arias
- During the pandemic, many towns in Italy resorted to outdoors concerts with opera singers performing of balconies. This is our elevated experience inspired by them.
- Get to discover GRAVITY in Franklinton; a conscious community that truly honors wellbeing, expression, impact, nature and transformation.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What Should I Wear?
There is no dress code for the concert! Some patrons choose to dress for a special occasion and others prefer to keep it casual. As this event will be outdoors be sure to dress appropriately.
Where Should I Park?
Parking is available at Gravity.
When Should I Arrive?
Plan on arriving about 30-40 minutes early. This gives you plenty of time to park, grab a drink, and make new friends.
MAP OF THE VENUE
We will be performing in the Event Lawn (shown here as #6).
There will be signage to help you find us!
WHAT SHOULD I BRING WITH ME?
Lawn Chairs or Blankets
This is an outdoor event where the audience will be seated on the lawn. We are encouraging our guests to bring a lawn chair or blanket to sit on during the performance.
Bug Spray
To keep the bugs away from you!
Money!
There will be a cash bar available at the performance. If you are interested in having a drink during the performance – don’t forget your wallet!
PERFORMERS
Keyona Willis blends her multifaceted interests in performing and utilizes those skills to pour into her passion of teaching. She has performed in opera houses, regional theatres, musical theatre workshops, cover bands, jazz combos, recitals and orchestral concerts. Willis’ interest in singing a variety of genres led her to explore different elements of vocal studies from the lens of functional voice training. She has certifications in Somatic Voicework™ , the LoVetri Method Levels I, II, and III, Estill Voice Training Levels I and II, Soul Ingredients® Methodology, and a Singing Health Specialization. Her crossover work led her towards her doctoral research, “The Crossover Opera Singer: Bridging the Gap Between Opera and Musical Theatre.” Willis recognizes that performance culture is expanding, allowing for both more variety and for more demands on the voice. She sees the value in creating healthy singing practices that are essential to cultivating a sustainable singing career when navigating different genres of music. She utilizes her diverse training background to work with a variety of students including beginners, pre-professionals and professionals to create a holistic training experience catered to each student. Her singing health specialization has aided in her ability to work with singers and professional voice users after they are released from voice therapy. Willis has current and former students working on Broadway, in TV/Film, on international stages, on cruise ships, on national tours, in regional theatres and in touring bands. She also takes great pride in working with younger singers and collegiate students. As a performer, despite the cancellations caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, Willis was seen this spring in a COVID safe production performing Mimi in La Bohème with Opera Columbus. The performance was directed by Dennis Whitehead Darling and conducted by Kathleen Kelly, who also created the new libretto. This fall, Willis will perform a rescheduled concert of Mass in Blue with Capriccio Columbus. In 2022, she will perform with Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra singing the role of Violetta in La Traviata. Prior to the COVID-19 cancellations, Willis had the honor of performing Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with Opera Columbus and Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors at St. John’s Church. Earlier that spring, Willis was the soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem with Central Ohio Symphony Orchestra and Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Springfield Symphony Orchestra. Willis also performed as the soprano soloist in Mozart’s Requiem with Capriccio Columbus and later with the Westerville Symphony Orchestra. Willis was seen in New York portraying Alice Ford in Verdi’s Falstaff with Prelude to Performance. She also had the honor of singing a premier work, The Ruby Elzy Story, inspired by David Weaver’s book, Black Diva of the Thirties. Other notable performances include Donna Anna (Don Giovanni), Vitellia (La Clemenza di Tito), Aida (Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida), Adolfo (Faramondo), Juliette (Romeo et Juliette), Countess (Le nozze di Figaro), Polly (The Threepenny Opera), Susannah (Tintypes), Monica (The Medium) and Rosa Bud (The Mystery of Edwin Drood). She also enjoys giving recitals, master classes and workshops.
Keyona Willis
Known for his stage savvy, Robert Kerr’s foundation in opera began in musical theater. Anthony Tommasini of the New York Times wrote of his Falstaff: “He made words matter and conveyed the self-delusion of this likable laughingstock… “. Known to Opera Columbus audiences, Robert Kerr returns this season in Tosca and Fellow Travelers. His past performances with the company include the King in Aida; the world première of The Flood by Korine Fujiwara with libretto by Stephen Wadsworth; the title role of Gianni Schicchi; and, Tonio in Pagliacci. Notable credits include a return to Rose Theater with Atsushi Yamada conducting the Philharmonia Orchestra of New York in an all-Verdi concert; he was Pooh-Bah in The Mikado with Performance Santa Fe!; the title role of Rigoletto with Opera Projects Columbus in addition to the title role in Gianni Schicchi with the company. He has been heard as Germont in La traviata with the Philharmonia Orchestra of New York at Lincoln Center and as soloist in Mozart’s Requiem; and, has appeared with the local symphonies on numerous occasions. In prior seasons, Mr. Kerr returned to Japan for engagements in performances of Requiem by Minoru Miki in Natori and reprising the work at Rose Theater at Lincoln Center; he has covered the role of the King in El Gato con Botas with Gotham Chamber Opera; and, was soloist with the New York City Opera Orchestra in a Japan tour of Carmina Burana. Other engagements include his appearance at the Kennedy Center Honors with Sondra Radvanovsky and Joseph Calleja in an Aida tribute to honoree, Martina Arroyo. Equally at home in musical theater, Mr. Kerr has sung King Hildebrand in Princess Ida with So. Ohio Light Opera; the role of Peachum in The Threepenny Opera with Amarillo Opera; and Pooh-Bah in The Mikado.
Robert Kerr
Anabella Petronsi, is a 2nd year DMA student in Voice Performance with the Singing Health Specialization at OSU under the tutelage of Dr. Katherine Rohrer, where she serves as a Graduate Teaching Associate. She graduated from the National University of Arts in Argentina with a BM in Voice Performance and from The Ohio State University with a MA in Music Education, Choral Education. She has sung L’ Enfant (Ravel), Barbarina (Mozart), Dame 2 (Mozart), Serpetta (Mozart), Papagena (Mozart), Despina (Mozart), Poesie (Charpentier), Berenice (Rossini), Mrs. Webster (Candey), Mirror 1 (Albinarrate), Mariquita Sanchez (Scher), and Heraldo (Lambertini). She worked as an Artistic Administrator, Director of Operations and Special Projects and Events for the Department of Musical Arts at the National University of Arts in Argentina. She also sang with Enhorabuena Company, Ensemble Tempus, and Opera of Columbus. She is a member of the Columbus Symphony Choir. 
Anabella Petronsi
Tony Hagood is an internationally accomplished pianist and composer from Westerville, Ohio. Tony received his bachelor of music performance degree from Capital University in 2010. He has played for audiences in China, Japan, South Korea, France, Italy, Spain, Turkey, and many countries in the Caribbean. Here in the states, he plays for a large range of performances from restaurants to stadiums. When Tony is not performing with other bands, running his concert series at the Columbus Museum of Art, running the Tony Hagood Presents concert series at the McConnell Arts Center, or leading various versions of his trio, duo, or playing solo an average of 6 performances a week, he works as a staff pianist, lecturer, and instructor of commercial, jazz, and classical piano at Otterbein University, is a staff pianist at OSU, and accompanies Westerville South High School choirs,. Tony also runs his music lessons company Noteworthy Music as President & Founder which teaches lessons in students’ homes and his music booking company, A Note Above the Rest Entertainment. Tony’s performance experiences include playing with two time Grammy award winner Tamika Lawrenece, playing for the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and Ne-Yo for their sold out picnic with the pops concert, Playing with the Columbus Jazz Orchestra for Home for the Holidays concerts, playing with Byron Striplings Quintet, performing with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, big bands, musicals, various combo groupings, instrumental and vocal accompanist, cruise ship pianist, symphony orchestra pianist, choir accompanist and classic rock, country, top 40s, R&B and more cover bands. Tony studied with mentor Mark Flugge from 2004 to 2010. Mark’s virtuoso techniques and stylistic flexibility have had a strong effect on Tony’s playing. He has also studied with Bill Dobbins, Luke Gillespie, and Dave Pietro. Tony has played with an accomplished list of jazz greats in Central Ohio and beyond. A partial list includes Byron Stripling, Vanessa Campagna, The Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Two time grammy award winner Tamika Lawrence, The Columbus Symphony Orchestra, The Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, Helen Welch, Westerville Symphony Orchestra, Ndugu Chancler, Gene Walker, Dave Pietro, Bob Mintzer, Vaughn Wiester’s Famous Jazz Orchestra, Jim Rupp, Chris Berg, Reggie Jackson, Andy Woodson, The Rick Brunetto Big Band, Steve Houghton, Ali Ryerson, Michael Cox, Pete Mills, Jim Powell, Jim Masters Wes Warmdaddy Anderson, was the pianist for Dwight Lenox for the last 1.5 years of his career before his death, Peter Yarrow, Brian Michael Smith, Dick Mackie and more. Awards: Louis Armstrong Jazz Award 2006 Free Tuition Scholarship to 2006 Band of America Summer Symposium 1st place Columbus Ohio Piano Gallery Jazz Composition Competition Outstanding recognition at Elmhurst College Jazz Festival 2008, 2010 Outstanding recognition at Notre Dame Collegiate Jazz Festival 2010
Tony Hagood
Tony is very passionate about music and its powerful influences. He will continue to pursue diverse musical paths and share them with all who listen.
COLLABORATORS
Gravity is the world’s largest conscious community — designed with intentionality, creativity and purpose. Curated to uplift those who choose it for living, working, or exploration.
OBLSK is a group of artists, inventors and designers who create interactive installations, crafted imagery, and multi-sensory experiences.
