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Philip Fortenberry

Philip Fortenberry image

Artist • Recording Artist


Artist • Recording Artist

As a versatile artist whose styles encompass a wide range of musical genres, Philip Fortenberry is a performer with an equally expansive career. A native of Columbia, Mississippi, Philip began playing the piano at the age of four and by seven was the accompanist for his church. After completing his undergraduate degree in 1980 at William Carey University in Hattiesburg, he left the south and moved to New York City. Philip continued his studies and holds a Master of Music Degree in classical piano performance from New Jersey City University, was an adjunct faculty member in the Steinhardt School of Education at New York University and continued his private piano studies at The Juilliard School.

Philip has played for many Broadway productions and national tours including such shows as Cats, Jesus Christ Superstar and The Lion King. He has also toured the U.S. and Canada in concert performances of The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber.

Philip made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1986 as the pianist/conductor for Eartha Kitt.

In 1990, Philip accompanied internationally renowned mezzo-soprano Frederica Von Stade at the Oregon Bach Festival. They were invited to perform at the White House for the Summit Conference between Mikhail Gorbachev and President George Bush. 

Currently a resident of Las Vegas, Philip was the associate conductor/music director for Jersey Boys at the Palazzo. As the featured artist at the Liberace Museum, Philip has given hundreds of performances of his one-man show, Liberace and Me. He currently is the music coordinator for the Broadway Series at The Smith Center for the Performing Arts and is the organist for Community Lutheran Church in Las Vegas. He serves on the board of a Nevada nonprofit, The Composers Showcase, to provide composers the opportunity monthly to present and perform original music to an enthusiastic audience at Myron’s Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center.

Photos

Audience and Press Reviews

  • This man speaks to the core of what music really is.

    — D. Hollingsworth, Las Vegas, NV

  • Fortenberry literally played the audience. Gazing at us with slow absorption, he created an improvised "musical group portrait" on the spot. And we sounded gorgeous.

    — Joe Brown, Las Vegas Sun

  • Phil graces our Church Sanctuary every Sunday morning with his piano playing. He is truly inspirational with his talent and his energy on the keyboards. He truly can move an entire congregation through his spiritual gift of music. I have ordered The Woods, and I know that it will be a 5 Star Musical Production.

    — L. Lee, Las Vegas, NV

  • He is very talented. He really connects with his audience. You can feel his passion as he plays. Enjoyed it very much.

    — House Seats

  • I was a shy teen when asked to sing at a friend's wedding in our tiny little town. She said her cousin, Philip, would be accompanying me on the piano, and that he was the greatest pianist ever and had been playing since he was 3 or 4. When singing at weddings, it could be a nightmare when the pianist played stiffly or without emotion, so I really hoped that she was telling the truth. No singer in this situation can do a song justice unless their pianist is good, and this was only my second time singing in a wedding. Philip was more than good. He was amazing. He made me sound so good, that I received enough compliments to make me blush profusely. When we finished the first song, he turned around and looked at me and said "That was good, Rhonda. You sounded great." Every girl at the wedding, including myself had a huge crush on him. He was such a gentleman and so talented. We all knew this young man was going places. I've never forgotten what a wonderful experience it was to perform with Philip and feel so thankful that I had a brush with greatness, even for so brief a time.

    — R. Hunt, Poplarville, MS

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