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Wizards of Winter hit the road with holiday rock

By Staff | Nov 30, 2016

Submitted

Holiday rock opera ensemble the WIZARDS OF WINTER are pleased to announce that as of today, 2016’s holiday tour will now feature three former members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra with the recent return of lead vocalist Guy LeMonnier. Hailing from Grand Rapids, MI, LeMonnier has performed and toured professionally with TSO and can be heard on their album Beethoven’s Last Night, as well as the WIZARDS OF WINTER albums The Wizards of Winter and The Magic of Winter. In addition to his work as an accomplished stage actor, LeMonnier has also appeared on several popular TV shows – including Gotham, Broad City, Quantico, Power and the newest Netflix series Iron Fist – as well as commercials, voice-overs and independent films.

LeMonnier states, “I had the fortune of meeting the WIZARDS OF WINTER in 2013, and I found a group of musicians and friends that quickly became family. The excitement on that stage for their craft and their love for the audience is awe-inspiring and I’m thrilled to be back with the pack to rock the nation this holiday season.”

Aiming to top the success of their 2015 tour – which saw them perform their brand of theatrical yuletide rock to thousands of performance attendees and grabbed the attention of mainstream media such as Entertainment Weekly and Yahoo Music – the WIZARDS OF WINTER are adding even more 2016 holiday tour dates! The ensemble will perform at venues this upcoming November and December in several eastern and central U.S. markets.

The WIZARDS OF WINTER recently announced further expansions to their ensemble cast, including the addition of Ted Nugent bassist/vocalist Greg Smith, former Trans-Siberian Orchestra vocalist Peter Shaw, seasoned vocalist Shawna Mehall and accomplished violinist Jenn Hamilton.

About The WIZARDS OF WINTER:

The WIZARDS OF WINTER are an eclectic group of musicians from the NY/NJ/PA tri-state region who perform classical and progressive-influenced rock music woven throughout a theatrical holiday-themed event. While the group’s style is undoubtedly inspired by the genius of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra (TSO), the WIZARDS OF WINTER are far from a TSO tribute band. The Wizards’ diverse array of original material is very unique and has a broad audience appeal, applied in a more intimate setting.

In addition to current WIZARDS OF WINTER and former TSO members Tony Gaynor, Peter Shaw and Guy LeMonnier, both former TSO members Tommy Farese and Michael Lanning have performed with the band on occasion as well.

The WIZARDS OF WINTER released their latest original holiday music album, The Magic of Winter, in late 2015.The Magic of Winter is produced by Eric Rachel at Traxeast (Symphony X, Skid Row, Styx) and can be ordered in physical format or purchased digitally via iTunes. The album features the infectious single “The Spirit of Christmas”.

“As we near ever closer to the arrival of Santa Claus, the WIZARDS OF WINTER have graced us with a wonderful soundtrack for the festive season. Whether you’re putting up the tree or wrapping presents, this 10-track CD provides endless amounts of joy… Give the WIZARDS OF WINTER a chance; you won’t be disappointed.” -BraveWords

“The band features original members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, so it comes as no surprise to hear sweeping, dramatic arrangements of holiday songs and classics on The Magic of Winter – a fine record to get your Santa spirit flowing in full force…” – CraveOnline

WIZARDS OF WINTER is:

Scott Kelly – Music Director, Keyboards

Sharon Kelly – Flute, Vocals

Fred Gorhau – Guitar

Guy LeMonnier – Vocals

Mary McIntrye – Keyboards, vocals

Tommy Ference – Drums

TW Durfy – Guitar

Vincent Jiovino – vocals

Tony Gaynor – Narration

Greg Smith – Bass

Peter Shaw – Vocals

Jenn Hamilton – Violin

Shawna Mehall -Vocals

To learn more about the WIZARDS OF WINTER, please visit www.facebook.com/TheWizardsofWinter and www.thewizardsofwinter.com.

On tour

See below for a full listing of dates and please visit each venue or their websites for ticketing information.

The WIZARDS OF WINTER Tour Dates:

11/23 – Syracuse, NY @ Crouse Hinds Theater

11/25 – Staten Island, NY @ St. George Theatre

11/26 – Red Bank, NJ @ Count Basie Theatre

11/27 – Beverly, MA @ Cabot Theatre

12/1 – York, PA @ Strand-Capitol Perf. Arts Center

12/2 – Binghamton, NY @ The Forum Performing Arts Theatre

12/3 – Scranton, PA @ The Theater at Lackawanna College

12/4 – Plymouth, NH @ Flying Monkey Performance Center

12/7 – Parsippany, NJ @ Parsippany High School – Benefit Concert

12/8 – Tarrytown, NY @ Music Hall

12/9 – Munhall, PA @ Carnegie Music Hall of Homestead

12/10 – Collingswood, NJ @ Scottish Rite Auditorium

12/11 – Easton, PA @ State Theater

12/15 – Kalamazoo, MI @ State Theatre

12/16 – Waukegan, IL @ Genesee Theater

12/17 – Milwaukee, WI @ Northern Lights Theater (Potawatomi Hotel & Casino)

12/18 – Turtle Lake, WI @ St. Croix Casino Turtle Lake Event

12/22 – Hagerstown, MD @ Maryland Theater

Check back for more performance confirmations and ticket links via www.wizardsofwinter.com/tour-dates/.