Oklahoma native partners with Oklahoma City Philharmonic to present “An Evening with Kelli O’Hara”

The Oklahoma City Philharmonic (OKCPHIL) will host two performances of “An Evening with Kelli O’Hara” at the Civic Center Music Hall as part of the Chickasaw Nation POPS Series. 

“Kelli is among the very top soprano voices in America. Her vocal quality and big heart are on display at their finest before her home crowd in Oklahoma City,” OKCPHIL Board of Directors President Jane Jayroe-Gamble said in a press release. “You don’t have to go to Broadway or the Metropolitan Opera to experience Kelli O’Hara’s superior talent, just come to this concert.” 

A native of the state, O’Hara has a connection to what seems like every region; born in eastern Oklahoma, raised in western Oklahoma and graduating high school and college in central Oklahoma. She is known for her Broadway and opera stage performances, receiving a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for “The King and I.” 

O’Hara said she feels differently performing in her home state than anywhere else in the world. 

“The personal connection runs very deep, and now, coming back home makes me feel a combination of scared and excited,” O’Hara said in the release, “It’s one thing to perform for an audience. It’s quite another to perform for those you know and love.” 

The seven-time Tony Award nominee complimented her upcoming performance counterpart saying, “The Oklahoma City Philharmonic can take you on a journey you might not even know you need, and I think we all need a little – or a lot – of what the OKCPHIL has to offer.” 

OKCPHIL Music Director and Conductor Alexander Mickelthwate was featured as a panelist at the most recent Greater Oklahoma City Chamber Forum, which focused on the performing arts in Oklahoma City. 

“What we want to create is the same excitement and pride for the organizations that are local, here, but with the same resources and talent that you get when you travel to Europe or to New York City, or wherever you travel,” Mickelthwate told the forum guests. 

Tickets for “An Evening with Kelli O’Hara” are on sale now at www.okcphil.org, or by phone at 405-842-5387. The first installment of the event will be held Feb. 24 at 8 p.m. at the Civic Center Music Hall. A second show will be held Feb. 25 at the same time and place.