PHILLIP MENTOR: press reviews.
As
one of America's finest concert baritones, Phillip Mentor is "the only singer
since Paul Robeson that I've enjoyed hearing singing these songs," according to Charles
Bassch (Asbury Park Press). He sings in a variety of languages and musical
styles -- from French to German to Spanish and Latin, and even some Yiddish;
from Negro Spirituals to classical, baroque, classic Broadway, to Irish and
English folksongs, gospel, sacred concerts, and Christmas concerts, both sacred
and popular.
Reviews and Praise for Phillip's Performances
Testimonials & News Articles
Review of North Dakota State College of Science Performance, February 23, 2005
Lock Haven University Performance (Kenneth Hall Letter, February 16, 2005)
Martin Luther King Celebration, St. Olaf College (Willian E. Green Letter, February 14, 2005)
Mentor Sings, Speaks Out in Canton, Missouri (Megaphone, Feb. 6, 2004)
North Dakota State College of Science (Norman Coley Letter, March 4, 2005)
Phillip Mentor Opens the Dixie Forum (Dixie-Sun, Jan. 20, 2004)
Phillip Mentor Serenades Roanoke College (Brackety-Ack, Jan. 30, 2004)
Burlington county library (Jeanette Taylor, June 13 2001)
Master Class, University of Arkansas (Eddie Jones Letter, March 18, 2005)
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Previous Reviews and Praise for Phillip's Performances
Headlines
Classical Concert and Church Benefit in Dover, NJ (Dover Plus, Dec. 18, 2003)
Students receive training from Opera professional (The Daily Plainsman, South Dakota, Oct 24, 2003)
Asbury Park Press Lauds Spiritual Odyssey
Charlestown Methodist church (April 23, 1999)
Herald Reporter Reviews JFK Library Concert
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Earlier letters reviews and retrospectives.
"What a wonderful afternoon of song you shared with us during Black History Month this past
February. How glad I am you called me last year. It was a pleasure working with you on this program,
and I look forward to our next collaboration."
Erica Grodin
Adult Program Coordinator, Finkelstein
Memorial Library
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"This is a letter of recommendation for Phillip Mentor who celebrated Martin Luther King's birthday
with the Westminster College community this past January. Phillip's voice, selection of African-American Spirituals, and insights regarding the music, made this an extra special day at Westminster.
"People have made wonderful statements to me about the program and especially Phillip's rich baritone
voice. Not only was Phillip wonderful to work with, he is a truly gifted performer and can enhance your
concert series."
Susan Rueter
Director of Student Activities, Westminster
College
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"Dear Phillip,
"Thank you so much for a lovely performance on Sunday. We got a very good turnout for a Sunday
afternoon. People seemed to enjoy your concert very much, it was something new and different for us.
The Friends of the Library, who sponsored the event, were very pleased. Perhaps sometime soon we
will obtain a piano.
"Again, thanks for coming to South Brunswick, and please thank your accompanist Ms. Lajhani for me
as well."
Jill Eisner
South Brunswick Public Library
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"Please allow me to thank you for the wonderful presentation which you provided for the Alcorn State University community. Not only was the singing inspirational, but the accompanying lecture was equally stimulating and thought-provoking. My students have expressed their genuine satisfaction for the experience."
Donzell Lee, Ph.D.
Alcorn State University
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"I want you to know how very much our people enjoyed your concert...you were a hit before the first
tune ended. Your choice of the Broadway tunes to be included was so important. Our people smiled,
laughed and cried as they sang along. And that was good. But the real clincher for me was to see how
many were holding hands. Phillip, you really won us all and provided us a marvellous evening. "
Richard C.Gilbert
Standhope United Methodist Church
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"Your visit with us was not only culturally enriching, but academically rewarding as well. It is not
often that students in the Mississipi delta are exposed to artists of your stature."
Troy D.Brown,Sr.
Mississipi Valley State University
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"I am still humming Edelweiss to myself. What a lovely evening you gave to us at Strong Museum last wednesday evening. I am happy to recommend it to anyone else who might be interested."
Florence Smith,
Strong Museum, Rochester, N.Y.
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"I want to thank you for a wonderful performance last Tuesday, May 9, at the North County Branch
Library. Your talent and love of music were obvious just from the small segment that I heard before the
concert. The audience also responded to your musical abilities because so many people told me and
other staff members how great you are. Thank you for sharing your gifts with us and giving us a lovely
evening."
Barbara Riesenfeld
Hunterdon County Library
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"Phillip Mentor has a beautiful voice. It is customary to refer to a man's voice as powerful or majestic
or some other synonym, but having gone through the vocabulary, there is no other word. Here is a true
baritone voice, with an engaging evenness throughout his considerable range."
B.Sharp
Stabroek News, Georgetown, Guyana
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