Petersburg Native Patrick D. McCoy guest moderator of panel at The Kennedy Center

March 3, 2013 - PRLog -- Washington Life Magazine performing arts columnist and Petersburg,VA native Patrick D. McCoy was guest moderator for the popular 'Talk Back' after The Washington Chorus' performance of Mendelssohn's oratorio Elijah.  The panel featured conductor Julian Wachner, soprano Janice Chandler-Eteme and baritone Stephen Salters, who was the evening's Elijah. Audience members were able to not only listen to McCoy engage the panelists, but were also allowed to ask questions and have have an intimate discussion with the artists.

"When I received the invitation from Executive Director Dianne Peterson to moderate the panel, I was just overjoyed.  I first heard 'Elijah' on a CD-set, performed the by the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra conducted by Robert Shaw. It was a full circle moment for me, especially since the chorus was singing from the late conductor's annotated score.  Soprano Janice Eteme was a favorite of Shaw's, so it was certainly a highlight for me to discuss him with her during the panel discussion."

As performing arts columnist for Washington Life Magazine, his inaugural column for the print edition was an interview with violinist Joshua Bell, followed by interviews with soprano Renée Fleming and National Symphony Timpanist Jauvon Gilliam.   Prior to becoming the regular arts columnist for the publication, McCoy conducted an exclusive interview with Maestro Norman Scribner on the occasion of his retirement as music director of the Choral Arts Society of Washington.  In celebration of Women's History Month, the magazine will yield an inteview with the new president of the Washington Performing Arts Society, Jenny Bilfield.

"I once worked on an as needed basis in the ticket office at The Kennedy Center. I never imagined that I would moderate a panel discussion from that great stage.  It was a wonderful feeling to speak about such glorious music in such an important space.  It was an honor to represent Washington Life Magazine and I can not say enough about the wonderful team there, Editor in Chief Nancy Reynolds Bagley, Managing Editor Alison McLaughlin, Associate Publisher John H. Arundel,  Editorial Director Anne H. Kim and Assistant Editor Laura Wainman.  They have provided me with such an important career opportunity and I am so thankful."

The Petersburg native is an alumnus of Virginia State University and Shenandoah Conservatory of Shenandoah University in Winchester, VA.   In addition to his work as a noted journalist, he serves as Acting Director of Music and Organist at Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, D. C., where The Rev. Canon John T. W. Harmon is Rector.