SAVANNAH, GA – The Savannah Philharmonic is thrilled to announce the return of Phil the Park,
Savannah’s largest outdoor music event, on Saturday, October 5th, 2024, in Forsyth Park. With
generous support from presenting sponsor Parker’s Kitchen, this year’s concert promises a
memorable evening of diverse musical performances under the theme, “Savannah the
Beautiful.”
Phil the Park is a beloved annual event that brings the community together for an unforgettable
night of music, culture, and celebration. Starting at 5 PM, the concert will feature performances
by the 3rd Infantry Division Band, the SCAD Bee Sharps, and SMF Jazz Academy, setting the
stage for an evening of musical excellence. Attendees will also enjoy an opening performance by
SavPhil Strings Students, ranging from 4th to 6th grade, showcasing their talents and offering a
glimpse into the future of Savannah’s musical legacy.
In keeping with the concert’s theme, “Savannah the Beautiful,” concert goers are also invited to
participate in a picnic competition. Participants can register onsite at the SavPhil tent from 5-6
PM. Prizes will be awarded for the most creative picnics, with winners announced from the
stage during the concert.
The main concert program will begin at 7 PM, featuring an eclectic mix of classical, rock, pop,
blues, jazz, and more, with performances by artists from various esteemed arts organizations.
The Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra & Chorus will also perform, showcasing highlights from
their 2024/25 season.
The event will also feature live performances by several notable guest artists, including:
● Flau’jae Johnson
● Elizabeth Baldwin
● Hanami Froom
● Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
Program Highlights Include:
● Star-Spangled Banner – Performed by the American Traditions Competition Junior
Winner
● BEETHOVEN | Symphony No. 9 excerpt
● Collaboration with SMF – Bluegrass featuring Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out
● SARASATE | Fantasy on Bizet’s “Carmen,” op.25
● HANAMI FROOM Spotlight – “Carmen Fantasy,” “Zigeunerweisen,” and an additional
piece
● ELIZABETH BALDWIN Spotlight – “I Could Have Danced All Night,” “Ain’t It A Pretty
Night”
● CHICAGO – “Saturday in the Park”
The Savannah Philharmonic invites you to enjoy an evening celebrating the beauty of Savannah
through the power of music, community, and creativity. Bring your friends, picnic baskets,
blankets and lawn chairs to Forsyth Park for a night you won’t want to miss!
For more information about the Savannah Philharmonic’s 2024 Phil the Park event, please visit:
https://savannahphilharmonic.org/phil-the-park/
Flau’jae Johnson:
Flau’jae Johnson, known professionally as Flau’jae, is a rapper and LSU women’s basketball
champion from Savannah, Georgia. Flau’jae first gained national attention on Jermaine Dupri’s
reality television series “The Rap Game” in 2016. Her impressive lyrical skills and stage presence
made her a standout contestant, and she quickly became a fan favorite. She later made history
on “America’s Got Talent” during its 13th season, where she became the first rapper to receive
the coveted Golden Buzzer, further solidifying her place in the spotlight.
Music runs deep in Flau’jae’s veins, inherited from her late father, the Universal recording artist
Camouflage. This deep connection to her musical roots paved the way for her groundbreaking
distribution deal with Jay Z’s Roc Nation (Equity Distribution), a testament to her undeniable
talent and dedication to her craft. Her debut studio EP, “Best of Both Worlds,” released in July
2024, features 9 tracks that showcase her full range of artistic capabilities, including the highly
anticipated “Came Out A Beast” featuring Lil Wayne. The project highlights her ability to be the
best at both music and basketball.
Flau’jae’s rise in the music industry is marked by several notable projects. She released a single
titled “AMF” featuring NLE Choppa which quickly became a fan favorite in the spring of 2024,
during her time playing in the NCAA March Madness tournament. Her lyricism and unique
sound have set her apart in the competitive world of rap, making her a formidable force to be
reckoned with. In July of 2024, Flau’jae became the first athlete and artist to perform at The
ESPYS on ESPN.
Beyond music, Flau’jae is a standout athlete, winning a national championship with LSU’s
women’s basketball team. Her standout skills on the basketball court have earned her
numerous accolades, including SEC Freshman of the Year (2023), McDonald’s All-American
(2022), MVP of Jordan Brand Classic (2022), Slam Summer Classic MVP (2021), and the
invitation to participate in the Iverson Classic as the only girl to play. Her dual career in sports
and music highlights her multifaceted talents and relentless work ethic.
Flau’jae has built a robust online community, affectionately known as The Flauk, with over 3
million followers across Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and YouTube. Her influence continues to
grow, making her a powerful figure in both the music and sports industries.
Elizabeth Baldwin:
American soprano Elizabeth Baldwin has been praised as “ferociously talented” by the San
Francisco Examiner and “mesmerizingly vulnerable” by The New York Times. Ms. Baldwin’s
current 2023-24 season engagements include a debut with Vista Philharmonic Orchestra at the
Groton Hill Music Center performing Dvorak’s Te Deum and Boyer’s On Music’s Wings, debuting
the role of Magda in The Consul with Angels Vocal Art Summer Opera Festival in L.A., a debut
with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra singing Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9, a debut with
the Savannah Philharmonic Orchestra singing Verdi’s Requiem, covering Latonia Moore as the
title role of Tosca with Oklahoma City Philharmonic, a debut with the Utah Festival Opera and
Musical Theatre performing Nella in a double bill of Gianni Schicchi and Ching’s Buoso’s Ghost
as well as soprano soloist in Verdi’s Requiem, among others. Recent operatic engagements
include: title role of Tosca with Anchorage Opera; Marguerite in Faust with Savannah VOICE
Festival; Senta in Der Fliegende Holländer with Miami Music Festival’s Wagner Institute; title
role of Norma with Municipal de Santiago Opera Nacional de Chile; Eva Crowley in Perla’s An
American Dream with Anchorage Opera; Sieglinde in Die Walküre with Miami Music Festival’s
Wagner Institute; Lady Macbeth in Macbeth with both Opera Company of Middlebury and
NYC’s Loft Opera. Other highlights include: Tatiana in Eugene Onegin with Chautauqua Opera;
title role of Tosca with Opera San Jose, Kentucky Opera, Gulf Coast Symphony Orchestra,
Houston’s Opera in the Heights and Boston Youth Symphony; title role in Ariadne auf Naxos with
Opera Theater of Pittsburgh; title role of Suor Angelica with Opera Project Columbus; Amelia in
Un Ballo in Maschera with Boston Youth Symphony; and Ellen Orford in Peter Grimes with
Chautauqua Opera, a role she later covered with the San Francisco Symphony.
On the concert stage, Ms. Baldwin was heard recently in a recital performing with Howard
Watkins at the Savannah VOICE Festival; Verdi’s Requiem with Alabama Symphony Orchestra (a
work later covered with the San Diego Symphony); Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9 with Akron
Symphony, Sarasota Symphony Orchestra, and Gulf Coast Symphony; Handel’s Messiah with Erie
Philharmonic Orchestra; and Strauss’ Vier Letzte Lieder with Denver Philharmonic Orchestra.
She made her debut with Dallas Opera in their concert series entitled Verdi & Co., gave a NATS
Texoma Conference Recital at Texas A&M University, and performed an all Wagner concert with
Wagner Society of Washington D. C. She was also honored to return to her hometown as a
special guest artist with the Toledo Opera on their annual opera gala concert. An active recitalist
with a deep passion for lieder, Ms. Baldwin’s most recent collaborations include recitals with
Ravinia Music Festival and Tanglewood Music Festival.
Ms. Baldwin is a 2024 First Place Gold Medalist with the American Traditions Vocal Collection
Competition and two-time Sherrill Milnes Opera Award winner. She was also a National
SemiFinalist in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions; Grand Prize winner in The
Sullivan Foundation Competition and Nicholas Loren Vocal Competition; First Prize winner in the
National Orpheus Vocal Competition, The National Opera Association Competition, The Heida
Hermanns International Voice Competition and the Mildred Miller International Vocal
Competition. She has also been awarded grants from operatic organizations including Licia
Albanese Puccini Foundation, Giulio Gari Foundation, Stella Maris International Competition (on
board the MS Europa), Tanglewood Music Center, and Schuyler Foundation for Career Bridges,
among others. More information about Ms. Baldwin may be found on her website at:
www.elizabethbaldwinsoprano.com.
Hanami Froom:
Hanami Froom, age 17, has been playing the violin since she was 2 years old. She currently
studies with Robert McDuffie, Amy Schwartz Moretti, and David Kim. She is a freshman at the
Robert McDuffie Center for Strings at Mercer University.
Hanami made her solo debut with orchestra at the age of 6 and since then, has appeared as a
guest soloist with numerous orchestras such as the Oregon Symphony, Vancouver Symphony
Orchestra, Beaverton Symphony Orchestra, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra, MetroArts Orchestra,
Oregon Sinfonietta, Jewish Community Orchestra, and the Portland Youth Philharmonic
Conservatory Orchestra.
She is a winner of multiple competitions, including the International Great Composer
Competition, MetroArts Young Artists Debut Concerto Competition, Vancouver Symphony
Orchestra Young Artists Competition, Amadeus Chamber Orchestra Youth Competition, Oregon
Sinfonietta Concerto Competition, Jewish Community Orchestra Young Artists Competition and
the Portland Youth Philharmonic Concerto Competition. She was a winner at the state, division,
and national of the Music Teacher National Association Competition for three consecutive
years.
In April 2021, she was invited by the Portland Chamber Orchestra to perform an hour long
recital, in which she performed works by Tomas Vitali, Johann Sebastian Bach, Fritz Kreisler,
Christian Sinding, and Jean Sibelius. Hanami was featured in All Classical Portland, The
Columbian, KXL, KOIN, KGW, and WQXR.
Besides violin, Hanami speaks fluent Japanese, and enjoys reading, playing piano, and karaoke
with her friends.
Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out:
For over 30 years, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme Out have been touring and releasing great,
original bluegrass music. After spending a handful of formative years as a member of Doyle
Lawson & Quicksilver (and recording some legendary bluegrass music in the process), Russell
Moore formed IIIrd Tyme Out in 1991 and bluegrass music hasn’t been the same since. IIIrd
Tyme Out helped usher in a new era of youthful, energetic bluegrass and established a unique
sound that has lasted well into the 21st century. Three decades later, Russell Moore & IIIrd Tyme
Out are one of bluegrass music’s most-awarded touring bands with over 50 industry accolades
to their credit. In 2019, Moore received his 6th Male Vocalist of the Year award from the
International Bluegrass Music Association, maintaining the record as their most awarded in that
category. With 18 albums and plenty of miles under his belt, Moore is excited about celebrating
the band’s 30th anniversary. “Even with all these years into it, we’re just as ready to hit the road
and play the music as we were on our first day on the road in 1991.”
About The Savannah Philharmonic:
The Savannah Philharmonic, a nonprofit 501©(3), is a community-focused arts organization
which strives to present concert performances and music education of the highest caliber
throughout the southeast. Composed of a professional orchestra and community chorus, and
led by the masterful baton of Keitaro Harada, the SavPhil performs a vast range of works from
composers of the past and present, and in all genres from classical to contemporary. The
organization focuses on fostering community and inspiring a true appreciation of music through
equitable access to performances and education programs. To learn more visit
savannahphilharmonic.org.