CHEVALIER LOVETT
“I Believe” Concert
May 18, 2023
Margaret Bonds Credo
Bio:
Chevalier Lovett – conductor/baritone/pianist, is a native of Winter Park, FL – and has been a lifelong lover of the classical art form. As an active vocal recitalist & stage performer, in the past some of the leading roles that Chevalier has performed has been: Prince Danilo in The Merry Widow, Aristeus/Pluto in Orpheus in the Underworld, Papageno in The Magic Flute, Colehouse Walker, Jr. in Ragtime, Aneas in Dido & Aneas, Peter/Father in Hansel and Gretel and Trio Baritone in Trouble in Tahitiprompting one critic to write that Chevalier “…possesses an attractive light baritone voice and dispatched his roles…with verve. His easy way with Bernstein’s syncopations was especially enjoyable.” Chevalier has been heard as the baritone and tenor soloist in several major works including: Handel’s Messiah, Schubert’s Mass in G, Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore & Coronation Mass, Faure’s Requiem and Haydn’s Lord Nelson Mass to name a few. He has performed on stages all around the world, most recently Carnegie Hall in New York and the newly renowned Steinmetz Hall in Orlando.
For his role as Colehouse Walker, Jr. he gained attention for his “riveting stage performance” which prompted one critic to write that “…Chevalier displayed superb and solid singing [with] stunning musical numbers and a stellar performance.”
In 2017, Chevalier made his stage debut with Opera Orlando as King Balthazar in Amahl and the Night Visitors where one critic wrote “Perhaps one of the most impressive things about Amahl is its local cast…A highlight among a stellar cast was eponymous night visitors [the Three Kings]…The virtuosity of the trio was matched by the three as soloists, as each brought his own amusing levity in solo passages, which highlighted the fantastical absurdity of the narrative.” He was back on the Opera Orlando roster and stage in 2020, performing as Bello/Handsome in Puccini’s Girl of the Golden West and closing the Saloon Recital Series as the main recitalist. In 2021, he once again was happy to be with his favorite opera company as the Assistant Conductor to a world premier and commissioned opera, The Secret River composed by Stella Sung with libretto by Mark Campbell. Chevalier has enjoyed a full calendar of concerts and recitals as a pianist. He has played recitals with well-known artists across the country including Grammy Award-winning baritone, Gabriel Preisser. In 2021 he made his collaborative pianist debut with Opera Orlando in their Summer Concert Series, collaborating with rising soprano, Kyaunnee Richardson in a sold-out performance.
As a sought-after and versatile conductor in several genre’s, Chevalier’s credits have included major works such as Handel’s Messiah, Verdi’s Requiem, Bach’s St. John Passion, Haydn’s Little Organ Mass, Mozart’s Coronation Mass in C and the Vaughn-Williams Dona Nobis. Some of Lovett’s orchestral credits include the works of Beethoven, Mozart, Brahms, Tchaikovsky, Holst and Vivaldi to name a few. Chevalier has been most active as a conductor within the world of opera, performing with well-known companies like Connecticut Opera, Opera Orlando, The Commonwealth Opera and Connecticut Concert Opera. Under his baton, audiences have enjoyed such operas like: Le Nozze di Figaro, Don Giovanni, La Cenerentola, Il Barbiere di Siviglia, The Merry Widow, La Traviata, Les pecheurs de perles, Man of La Mancha and Madama Butterfly – drawing critics to say that “Chevalier is a promising young man…(who) brings a youthful enthusiasm to any task!”
During the 2022 – 2023 season, Chevalier will enjoy a busy performance calendar in recital halls, both as a vocalist and pianist. He will also take the stage as a collaborative pianist with several notable choral programs, in a return to his first love – choral music. Lovett makes his return to the Opera Orlando stage, conducting their final opera of the season, Baseball which will make its Central Florida debut. And he is excited to make his conducting debut with Orlando Sings, conducting Margaret Bonds’ Credo in the Spring of 2023.
Chevalier currently serves as the Chief Operating Officer for Florida Rising. Outside of music, he enjoys spending time with his newborn twin boys and very blended family on all sides, living an active & fit lifestyle, traveling, discovering, reading and being an activist in the Peace Movement. He also currently serves as the Contemporary Worship Director at First United Methodist of Winter Park and as the Associate Director & pianist of the Jones High School Choral Program. He serves on several notable board both locally and nationally and for his work within the community, Chevalier was humbly named as Winter Park’s 2020 Most Influential and recognized as a finalist for Orlando Weekly’s Best of 2021 in two categories: Best Local Leader During A Pandemic and Best Local Big Shot Who’s Not An Elected Official and again in 2022 in three categories: Best Local Leader During A Pandemic, Best Local Big Shot Who’s Not An Elected Official and Best Local Influencer for his work in community advocacy and engagement.