BEVIN SINCLAIR TURNBULL --Executive/Artistic Director
Born in Harlem. Currently resides in Williamsbridge section of the Northeast Bronx. At Howard University, while enrolled as a Chemistry major, studied composition with the legendary Dr. Donald Byrd whose influence led to further studies in piano and composition. Worked in Dr. Byrd’s “Big Bad Band” which became the famous BLACKBYRDS. Performed with DR. Byrd at colleges and universities throughout the South, as well as D.C. area. Also performed with DR. Byrd for Duke Ellington on Duke's 74th Birthday. Earned B.A. from Howard and later Master’s degree from the State University of Pennsylvania. Attended Extension Division at The Juilliard School in New York. Began composing and performing with a progressive jazz group, The Ensemble Al Salaam. Recorded two albums on the Strata East label and appeared at the Village Gate, broadcast live on the Les Davis Show--WRVR FM. Experiences with pop music were to later influence the creation of an individual style blending jazz with pop elements. Formed the music ensemble--TRIAD which eventually appeared at clubs like Mikell’s, Eric and Sweetwater’s in Manhattan. Opened at The Beacon Theater for Al Green; Trenton’s War Memorial Theater for Pieces of a Dream and did a seven-week tour of Japan. Produced BEVIN:NOW (Featuring “Quiet Space” or “Better Way.” Arranged “Great America by Rosa Adotey. Also produced "SUCCESS SUITE/SUITE SUCCESS, NEW JAZZ CITY, INVISIBLE MAN, SONGS FOR SINGERS, SETLIST, TARAH’S 1st CHRISTMAS, MMVII, BEGIN THE BEGUINE and most recently, OST SOUNDTRACK. (OST stands for The Other Side of Tomorrow) and CLOCKTIME. www.cdbaby.com/Artist/BevinTurnbull
http://bookstore.xlibris.com/Products/SKU-0121789003/The-Other-Side-Of-Tomorrow--Book-Three.aspx
Artistic/Executive Director of BRONX RENAISSANCE COMMUNITY THEATER (BxRCT). Recently produced DVDs of KING SOLOMON'S REIGN, THE PATIENCE OF JOB and REVELATIONS. BxRCT performs works such as “Willy Freeman,” “The Magic Feather,” “The Reign of King Solomon,” “Galileo Park,” “Romeo & Juliet,” “The Patience of Job, “One Christmas Island.” and more. Engaged in school, community center and church projects, piano/keyboard gigs and composing new music, and teaching piano, trumpet, drums and violin. Performs regularly as leader of music ensemble, NEW JAZZ CITY w/Jina Billups.
Dr. Belinda Miles sang and I played piano and flugelhorn during a one-week stint in Berlin, Germany last October, 2023 at four different venues. We were very well recieved, and expect to be asked to return this year. IT is quite likely that Jina will be returning as our lead singer in 2025.
FROM TRIAD to NEW JAZZ CITY/
30+ YEARS--More than a quarter century!
Our latest film project now in progress follows the groups of musicians who most often accompany our stage productions. Looking ahead, we plan to tackle the huge task of recording and filming an entire stage production. That will be expensive! But it's coming. Meanwhile, this current film highlights some of the performers in club and concert settings.
Due to the pandemic, we had to postpone our June 2020 presentation of NEW JAZZ CITY: the musical, directed by Rey Allen at THE NATIONAL BLACK THEATER in Harlem. It was not until June of 2021 that we performed NEW JAZZ CITY: the musical at the Bronx MARRIOTT RESIDENCE INN, as we had in December of 2019, except this time it was on the hotel's outdoor patio, and we called it NEW JAZZ CITY: the musical (part two), as the story continued.
In December 2021 we presented DONA NOBIS PACEM (Grant us Peace) at the brand new North East Bronx YMCA, where we played for its Ribbon Cutting in early Autumn. Our goal of establishing the "Y" as our home base is being realized.
We have performed four shows at the North East Bronx YMCA since it opened in 2021. Last May 2nd, three of our best members presented at Lincoln Center-STanley Kaplan Penthouse for elite YMCA donors and patrons.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/
Due to the pandemic, we had to postpone our June 2020 presentation of NEW JAZZ CITY: the musical, directed by Rey Allen at THE NATIONAL BLACK THEATER in Harlem. It was not until June of 2021 that we performed NEW JAZZ CITY: the musical at the Bronx MARRIOTT RESIDENCE INN, as we had in December of 2019, except this time it was on the hotel's outdoor patio, and we called it NEW JAZZ CITY: the musical (part two), as the story continued.
In December 2021 we presented DONA NOBIS PACEM (Grant us Peace) at the brand new North East Bronx YMCA, where we played for its Ribbon Cutting in early Autumn. Our goal of establishing the "Y" as our home base is being realized.
We have performed four shows at the North East Bronx YMCA since it opened in 2021. Last May 2nd, three of our best members presented at Lincoln Center-STanley Kaplan Penthouse for elite YMCA donors and patrons.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/
Musical Theater Instruction
Bronx Renaissance Community Theater (BxRCT) has been a 501 (c) 3 Not-For-Profit Organization since July, 2005. Grants will be used to supplant the yearly $12,000 to $15,000 grants we originally received from The New York City Department of Youth and Community Development (DYCD) over our early years. We will continue to work closely with other Not-for-Profit organizations such as St. Luke’s Episcopal Church (where we were based for 16 years); Eastchester Gardens Community Center; Edenwald Community Center and Mosholu-Montefiore Community Center at Beacon 113, providing theater arts for youth from a poverty-stricken community in the Edenwald/Wakefield/Williamsbridge areas of the Bronx.
With the assistance of very qualified adult volunteers, we have presented, "Dramatic Concert Recitals," at churches, local community centers, schools and Lehman College. As a resident and as a father, it troubles me to see that there is not enough emphasis on arts, music and technology within this community, leaving the vast majority of young men and women with no other choice than turning to the streets.
Over the past few years we have offered music and musical theater workshops at Baychester Center (from 2004-2007), then at Eastchester Gardens Community Center and Edenwald Centers. A number of our students have been accepted by audition into The Juilliard School of Music’s MAP program (Music Advancement Program). One of our earliest recruits (Letiece Miller, who plays the Queen of Sheba in both our live and film productions of KING SOLOMON’S REIGN) recently graduated with a B.A. from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
A rotating team of BxRCT instrumental instructors has taught piano, trumpet, flute, violin, drums, guitar and percussion. Looking ahead, our goal is to develop a youth orchestra which will, among many other things, enrich and enhance our musical theater and film productions. We plan to one day construct a fully-equipped theater of our own in the Northeast Bronx.
Our earliest programs began at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, where we first rehearsed plays and eventually performed them at least twice a year. Concurrently, we began holding musical theater workshops at Baychester Community Center; later branching out to other North East Bronx centers--Edenwald, Eastchester Gardens; then Gloria Wise Community Center in Co-op City. Our performances at Lehman College represent some of our highest points of achievement artistically as well as our reaching larger numbers of participants and wider audiences. We took forward to presenting our new works and workshops at the new Bronx YMCA and the National Black Theater in Harlem.
With the assistance of very qualified adult volunteers, we have presented, "Dramatic Concert Recitals," at churches, local community centers, schools and Lehman College. As a resident and as a father, it troubles me to see that there is not enough emphasis on arts, music and technology within this community, leaving the vast majority of young men and women with no other choice than turning to the streets.
Over the past few years we have offered music and musical theater workshops at Baychester Center (from 2004-2007), then at Eastchester Gardens Community Center and Edenwald Centers. A number of our students have been accepted by audition into The Juilliard School of Music’s MAP program (Music Advancement Program). One of our earliest recruits (Letiece Miller, who plays the Queen of Sheba in both our live and film productions of KING SOLOMON’S REIGN) recently graduated with a B.A. from The American Academy of Dramatic Arts.
A rotating team of BxRCT instrumental instructors has taught piano, trumpet, flute, violin, drums, guitar and percussion. Looking ahead, our goal is to develop a youth orchestra which will, among many other things, enrich and enhance our musical theater and film productions. We plan to one day construct a fully-equipped theater of our own in the Northeast Bronx.
Our earliest programs began at St Luke’s Episcopal Church, where we first rehearsed plays and eventually performed them at least twice a year. Concurrently, we began holding musical theater workshops at Baychester Community Center; later branching out to other North East Bronx centers--Edenwald, Eastchester Gardens; then Gloria Wise Community Center in Co-op City. Our performances at Lehman College represent some of our highest points of achievement artistically as well as our reaching larger numbers of participants and wider audiences. We took forward to presenting our new works and workshops at the new Bronx YMCA and the National Black Theater in Harlem.
VISION/ STAGE: Through the LensThe purpose and theme of CROSSROADS, funded in 2013 and 2014 by The New Yankee Stadium Benefits Fund, focused on science and the scientist. With our 2016 grant award, The New Yankee Stadium Benefits Fund enabled BxRCT to produce its third short film projects, Revelations. Now VISION/STAGE: Through the Lens will continue to expose our participants to video technology, as well as the various inner workings and aspects of production. Since there hardly exists a more influential medium for conveying ethical themes and life lessons than film, we have decided to expand our outreach with it.
BxRCT will use film to professionally document our musical theater pieces in a more durable and lasting fashion than we ever have in the past. Doing so, our participants will be given opportunities to learn script writing, videography, audio engineering, computer graphics and digital editing. BxRCT remains thoroughly dedicated to promoting literacy and aesthetic training. Thus, VISION/STAGE: Through the Lens will enhance our ability to engage wider membership and audiences while demystifying the most modern, durable and easily accessible digital formats impacting our lives. |
|
Summer & Winter Solstice
Dramatic Concert Recitals
Dramatic Concert Recitals
Menherit & Derick 12/11/21
