The Endowment Committee for the Cultural Arts of Fayette County presents an Evening of American Song this Saturday. The program features the vocal talents of Peachtree City residents Bill Killmeier and Cynthia Van Wert with pianist Bill Callaway of Covington. Appearing with these professional performers will be the McIntosh High School Select Girls Chorus under the direction of Dr. Frank Green. The concert, made possible by the support of The Home Source Realtors and Talbot State Bank, will be held at the McIntosh High School Performing Arts Center beginning at 7:00 p.m.

After performing for nearly 13 years in Germany, Austria and Ireland, Bill Killmeier has recently settled in Peachtree City. The baritone was heard last season as Sharpless in the Atlanta Opera’s production of “Madame Butterfly” at the Atlanta Civic Center. He grew up in Marietta, Ga. and attended the University of Georgia. After graduation from Westminster Choir College in Princeton, N.J., Bill was selected as soloist and member of the United States Army Band and Chorus (Pershing’s Own) in Washington, D.C. Following his enlistment in the U.S. Army, Mr. Killmeier continued his singing career in Europe where he performed more than 60 leading operatic roles and recently sang the role of Fred/Petruchio in Cole Porter’s “Kiss Me Kate” in Innsbruck, Austria. In addition to his stage work, Bill served as assistant to the Minister of Music at First Baptist Church, Atlanta as well as Minister of Music at various churches in Georgia, New Jersey and Washington, D.C. Mr Killmeier is the co-author of “Auditioning in the 21st Century,” an essential handbook for those auditioning for and working in the German speaking theater "fest" system.

Cynthia Van Wert was born in Nazareth, raised in Israel and is the daughter of Baptist Missionaries. After moving to the United States, she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in vocal performance at Eastern Kentucky University and her Master’s of Music in vocal performance at the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. While at the University of Tennessee, Cynthia was awarded the Mary Costa Opera Scholarship and was chosen to be an apprentice with the Knoxville Opera Company. She was a regional finalist in the Metropolitan Opera Audition Competition and the winner of the University of Tennessee Concerto Competition. Her solo performance experience includes opera, oratorio, musical theater, outdoor drama as well as recitals. As a full-time mother of two, Cynthia currently resides in Fayette County where she has lived for more than 13 years. She continues to perform and teaches voice privately.

Pianist Bill Callaway is a native of Covington, Ga. and began his musical career at the city’s First United Methodist Church studying under the well-known local teacher Josie Goode. He attended the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, N.Y. and graduated from the University of Georgia where he served as accompanist for the University Chorus. He has performed frequently in the Covington and Atlanta areas and was recently heard by local audiences at an organ concert he gave at the First Presbyterian Church for the Newton County Concert Association. Currently, Bill resides in Atlanta where he serves as organist for the Chamblee United Methodist Church and also as accompanist for the West Atlanta/Douglas Choral Society.

Advance purchase tickets for the concert are $15 for adults and $10 for students and are available at the McIntosh High School office, City Cafe, and The Home Source Realtors. A limited number of special seating area tickets for the concert followed by a coffee and dessert reception by City Cafe are available for $30. Tickets may also be purchased by phone, 770-487-4635. Phone orders may be charged to Visa or Master Card. Subject to availability, adult and student tickets may be purchased at the door on the evening of the performance for $18 and $12 respectively.

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