Christyan Seay
His Story
Christyan Seay, tenor is a graduate of the Pennsylvania State University and a
resident of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He studied voice with the late Dr. Thomas Houser
and Dr. Anthony Leach (Pennsylvania State University). Active in recital, oratorio and
opera, Mr. Seay has performed extensively throughout central Pennsylvania and
abroad, including performances with the Harrisburg, Lancaster, Central PA and West
Shore Symphonies, The Pennsylvania Consort, the Harrisburg Opera Association,
Opera Lancaster, Opera North (Philadelphia) and Concert Operetta of Philadelphia.
He has performed at Weill Recital Hall in New York City as well as Smetana Hall in
Prague (Czech Republic) and other venues throughout Europe. His operatic roles
include Nemorino (L’Elisir D’more), Goro (Madama Butterfly), Gastone (La Traviata),
Borsa (Rigoletto), Spoletto (Tosca), Beppa (Pagliaci), Mr. Angel (The Impressario), Don
Curzio/Basilio (The Marriage of Figaro), Edwin (Trial by Jury), Pimpinelli (Paganini),
and King Kaspar (Amahl & the Night Visitors). Performances in oratorio include
Mendelssohn (Elijah, Hymn of Praise), Haydn (Creation, Mass in Time of War, Nelson
Mass, Theresa Mass), Bach (Magnificat, Christmas Oratorio, Cantata No. 140 Wachet
Auf), Mozart (Requiem, Mass in C minor, Coronation Mass), Beethoven (Mass in C,
Choral Fantasy), Schubert (Mass in G), Handel (Messiah, Chandos Anthem No. 2),
Vivaldi (Beatus Vir), Ramirez (Misa Criolla), Honegger (King David) and Nathaniel Dett
(The Ordering of Moses).
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Among his accomplishments, he was awarded “Honorable Mention” as a finalist in the
Bel Canto Foundation National Opera Competition and in April 2018 Mr. Seay sang as a
member of the chorus and soloist in “The Underground Railroad: A Spiritual Journey”
with renown soprano Kathleen Battle. In August 2018 he was invited to be soloist in the
Philadelphia Community Mass with renowned Philadelphia composers and musicians.
During recent seasons Mr. Seay was engaged as tenor soloist in Handel’s Messiah
(Harrisburg Choral Society, Pennsylvania Consort & Shippensburg University Concert
Choir & Orchestra), Mozart’s Coronation Mass (Sylvan Chorale) and Requiem
(Shippensburg University), Mass for the Homeless (Music with a Mission), and Brahms
Liebeslieder and Neue Liebeslieder (with HSO Conductor Stuart Malina and Market
Square Concerts). He appeared as guest soloist for the February 2019 concert with
the Central Pennsylvania Symphony Orchestra (Opera arias and Broadway selections).
Mr. Seay assisted in preparing the chorus for the February 2020 presentation of
Gerswhin’s Porgy and Bess with the Harrisburg Symphony Orchestra and appeared as
soloist and narrator in excerpts from Scott Joplin’s Treemonish with the West Shore
Symphony and the Capital Area Music Association (February 2022).
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Mr. Seay is retired as Manager of the Loan Assets Management Division for the
Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) after 33 years of service
to the Agency. His community involvement includes the Artistic Committee of Gretna
Music, the boards of the Sankofa African American Theater Company, State Street
Academy of Music, and the Nativity School of Harrisburg (charter school for young
African American males). He also serves as Artistic Director of the Capital Area Music
Association (CAMA) – a choral organization with emphasis on music of African
American Composers and Culture.