Samara Joy, recently anointed as Best New Artist by 2022 Grammy Award voters, visited Greensboro Friday night to share a level of musical talent rarely experienced.
Blessed with a vocal instrument on par with jazz legends like Sarah Vaughan, Betty Carter and Ella Fitzgerald, the 23-year-old sensation displayed vocal fireworks that made the audience feel they were in the presence of something exceptional.
Oconee Performing Arts Society (OPAS) Artistic Director Doug LaBrecque introduced Joy by saying, “Two years ago, I watched a 21-year-old singer on TikTok who was so unique and special, I kept my eye on her.”
LaBrecque’s talent-spotting intuition came full circle once she won two Grammys and fulfilled her commitment to OPAS.
Much of the material was unfamiliar to the local audience, but Joy’s musical dexterity and range were on full display. Her single 80-minute set could have benefitted from a couple more familiar tunes and a few unornamented jazz standards, but her performance remained remarkable. The highlight of the evening was her stunning rendition of “Stardust.”
The fortunate 300 people in the audience witnessed an artist at the beginning of what surely will be a legendary career. One can only imagine what more life experience will add to Joy’s staggering talents. It is a testament to the influence and dedication of OPAS that the local audience had the opportunity to hear her.
Several lucky local high school students also were given complimentary tickets to listen and learn from Joy. She has hundreds of thousands of young fans gained through various social media channels and is credited with introducing her genre of music to the younger generation. Her voice exudes wisdom beyond her years, but her youthful and positive spirit comes through when she chats with her audience.
Next up for OPAS will be its annual, family-friendly, Memorial Day Weekend Patriotic Salute on May 27, featuring Tony and Grammy nominee Michael Cavanaugh performing the music of Billy Joel. For tickets, call 706-467-6000 or log on to opas.org.