Holiday Rock Ensemble WIZARDS OF WINTER Announce 2018 Holiday Season Tour Dates + New Members
New Members Include:
Drummer John O. Reilly (ex-Trans Siberian Orchestra, has Performed with Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh of the Eagles and more)
Baritone/Tenor Lead Vocalist Karl Scully (The Irish Tenors)
Lead Vocalist/Auxiliary Keyboardist Rebecca Graae (Viking Ocean Cruises)
Lead Guitarist Chris Green (Has Performed with Jeff Scott Soto, Firehouse, Nelson, Tyketto and More)
Beginning Friday, November 16 in Westbury, NY
Holiday rock ensemble the WIZARDS OF WINTER – featuring former members of the Trans-Siberian Orchestra, Rainbow, Blue Oyster Cult, Ted Nugent and The Irish Tenors– will begin their annual holiday tour on Friday, November 16, 2018 in Westbury, NY! The tour will visit cities and towns across North America, coming to an end on December 29 in Derry, NH.
See below for a full listing of tour dates. All dates are on sale now, and tickets can be purchased via individual venues.
WIZARDS OF WINTER founder and keyboardist Scott Kelly says, “We are looking forward to bringing the spirit of Christmas across the nation again this year. We have such an exciting lineup and we can’t wait to get out there and share the magic with friends, both old and new!”
The WIZARDS OF WINTER 2018 Holiday Tour Dates:
11/16 – Westbury, NY @ The Space at Westbury
11/17 – York, PA @ The Strand Theatre
11/23 – Peekskill, NY @ Paramount Theatre
11/24 – Morristown, NJ @ Mayo Performing Arts Center
11/30 – Jackson, MI @ Potter Center
12/1 – Winona, MN @ St. Cecelia Theatre
12/2 – Mitchell, SD @ Corn Palace Theatre
12/3 – Winnipeg, MB @ Centennial Concert Hall
12/6 – Suquamish, WA @ Clear Water Casino
12/7 – Shelton, WA @ Little Creek Casino
12/8 – Longview, WA @ Columbia Theatre
12/12 – Tempe, AZ @ Marquee Theatre
12/13 – Tucson, AZ @ Fox Tucson Theatre
12/15 – Las Vegas, NV @ Cannery Casino
12/18 – Ponca City, OK @ Poncan Theatre
12/19 – Terre Haute, IN @ Indiana Theater
12/20 – Peoria, IL @ Peoria Civic Center Theatre
12/21 – Elkhart, IN @ The Lerner Theatre
12/22 – Akron, OH @ Akron Civic Center
12/23 – Easton, PA @ State Theatre Center for the Arts
12/28 – Staten Island, NY @ St. George Theatre
12/29 – Derry, NH @ Tupelo Music Hall
The WIZARDS OF WINTER are thrilled to announce the addition of several talented new members to their ensemble. The ensemble is pleased to welcome drummer and former Trans-Siberian Orchestra member John O. Reilly, Baritone/Tenor lead vocalist Karl Scully, lead vocalist/auxiliary keyboardist Rebecca Graae and lead guitarist Chris Green.
Drummer John O. Reilly says, “I’m proud and excited to be joining the WIZARDS OF WINTER this coming season and beyond! There are great things ahead for the Wizards and I am truly honored to be a part of it and looking forward to seeing you on the road.”
John O. Reilly has recorded, performed live, and appeared on video with some of the best, including Ritchie Blackmore’s Rainbow, Bruce Springsteen, Joe Walsh (Eagles), Richie Cannata (Billy Joel), John Anderson (Yes), Geoff Tate (Queensryche), Tommy Shaw (Styx), Blackmore’s Night, West World, Jane Mangini (O’2L), Joe Lynn Turner, Blue Oyster Cult, Al Pitrelli (Megadeth), Robin Zander (Cheap Trick), Randy Coven (Yngwie Malmsteen), Zack Wylde (Ozzy Osbourne), TM Stevens (Steve Vai), Steve Morse (Kansas/Dixie Dregs/Deep Purple), Alan Holdsworth, Stanley Jordan, Reb Beach, Jeff Watson (Night Ranger), Rod Price (Foghat), Peter Noone, Davy Jones, Micky Dolenz, Bobby Sherman, Yoko Ono, Richie Havens and more. Reilly performed with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra for over 15 years.
Lead vocalist Karl Scully says, “I am thrilled to be joining the WIZARDS OF WINTER! Throughout my classical career I’ve rocked out to this kind of music, so I am so excited to now be able to join such an incredibly talented group and bring this full-throttle music to audiences everywhere! It’s amazing to me how easily this music sits on my voice, and how much fun it is to use the full range of my voice with this powerful band. I am honored to be included with these world-class instrumentalists and singers this year, and I know the tour with them is going to be a blast!”
Karl was a member of The Irish Tenors and performed with them and as a soloist in Europe and the USA. He kick-started his career in 2000 when he played the role of Count John McCormack in the cinematic film “Nora”, by Pat Murphy and Gerard Stembridge, starring Ewan McGregor. He followed his on-screen success by performing operatic roles such as: Don Jose in “Carmen” by Bizet; The Witch in “Hansel and Gretel” by Humperdinck; MacHeath, in “Beggars Opera” and Albert, in “Albert Herring” by Benjamin Britten; King Ouf in “L’etoile” by Chabrier; Paolino, in “Il Matrimonio Segreto” by Cimarosa; Ferrando, in “Cosi Fan Tutte” by Mozart; and Arturo in “Lucia di Lammermoor” by Gaetano Donizetti. During his time in Italy, Karl was a permanent artist in the Teatro Carlo Felice Opera House in Genoa. While there he performed solo roles alongside world-famous artists including Samuel Ramey, Robert Brubaker, and Dwayne Croft.
Lead vocalist/auxiliary keyboardist Rebecca Graae holds a degree in vocal performance, and has been featured as a lead soloist on Viking Ocean Cruises since 2016. Rebecca has also performed in several theatre productions. Rebecca comments, “I’m so excited to tour with the Wizards this season! As a classically trained theatre performer, getting to work with rockers is an exciting challenge and an amazing opportunity that I am honored to have been given. I’ve already been warmly welcomed into a new family of incredible musicians, and celebrating Christmas is the best job anyone could ask for! Let’s get this show on the road!”
Lead guitarist Chris Green has performed with the likes of Jeff Scott Soto, Firehouse, Nelson, Scrap Metal (with Eric Martin, Mark Slaughter and Kip Winger), Furyon, Pride and Rock N’ Roll Fantasy Camp, and is currently the lead guitar player for Tyketto. He is also a songwriter and has released solo albums. Chris Green adds, “I’m incredibly proud to join the ranks of the WIZARDS OF WINTER. Rehearsals have been fantastic and I’m really looking forward to getting out on the road this winter as part of the team. The level of musicianship in this band is incredible, so I’m honored to be part of this Christmas extravaganza. I look forward to meeting you all on the road, see you soon!”
To learn more about the WIZARDS OF WINTER, please visit www.facebook.com/
About the WIZARDS OF WINTER:
The WIZARDS OF WINTER are an ensemble performing classical and progressive-influenced rock music woven throughout a theatrical holiday-themed show, performed in an intimate setting.
Each night on tour, the WIZARDS OF WINTER evoke the spirit of Christmas, weaving a story entirely based on their latest full-length album, The Magic of Winter, and new music. Each WIZARDS OF WINTER performance showcases soaring vocal harmonies, precision string instrumentation, outstanding guitar leads, powerful percussion and stunning keyboard work – taking the listener on a musical journey, covering many genres from pop to progressive rock. Previous tours have seen the WIZARDS OF WINTER performing their brand of theatrical yuletide rock to tens of thousands of attendees and has grabbed the attention of mainstream media such as Entertainment Weekly and Yahoo Music. The ensemble’s singles have also been aired on SiriusXM Holly.
Listen to the WIZARDS OF WINTER‘s latest single, “A Christmas Dream” – an enchanting medley featuring segments of the classic holiday tunes “My Favorite Things” and “Carol of the Bells” – here.
The Magic of Winter, which features the breakout single, “The Spirit of Christmas” (watch the music video here), can be ordered in physical format here or purchased digitally via iTunes.
WIZARDS OF WINTER is:
Scott Kelly – Keyboards
Sharon Kelly – Lead Vocals/Flute
Fred Gorhau – Lead Guitar
Greg Smith – Bass
John O’Reilly – Drums
Chris Green – Lead Guitar
Ellie Krasner – Violin/vocals
Vincent Jiovino – Lead Vocals
Karl Scully – Lead Vocals
Shawna Mehall – Vocals
Rebecca Graae – Lead Vocals/Aux Keys
Tony Gaynor – Narrator
