Press
The Wall Street Journal
I loved the live music, especially the haunting solos by 25-year-old Kaitlyn Lusk. Miss Lusk later told me she started with the production when she was only 15 and she has travelled the world with it.
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New York Magazine
Soprano Kaitlyn Lusk has a voice so pure and plaintive that at one point I mistook it for a Theremin.
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Los Angeles Stage & Cinema
Kaitlyn Lusk’s pristine soprano cuts through the shimmering wash of the orchestra and chorus in a flawless, awe-inspiring performance. Lusk’s stylistic range is remarkable; during the end credits, her rich and grounded rendition of “May It Be” (originated by the breathy, ethereal Enya) is newly ornamented with elaborate, yet seemingly effortless, turns.
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Cincinnati Post
Star of the show was soprano Kaitlyn Lusk, a teenager from Pennsylvania with a beatific voice and stage presence to match. Her stylish performance of the wrenching “Gollum’s Song” and Shore’s 2004 Oscar-winner “Into the West” from “The Return of the King” went straight to the heart and brought the audience to its feet.
Arizona Daily Star
The strength of her mezzo-soprano is its pliability to criss-cross operatic and pop styles…Her most fluid and pure moment was in the pop-tinged “Into the West,” which earned her one of two bursts of mid-concert applause.
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Florida Times Union
The highlight of the “Judy Garland and the Golden Era” concert was vocalist Kaitlyn Lusk, who delighted the audience…At a mere 18 years of age, Lusk has a commanding stage presence with the vocal timbre to back up her confidence. Though Lusk has strong control of her rich voice, her playful repartee with the conductor showed that she is foremost an entertainer…For those concerned about the future of the arts and entertainment, Lusk is an auspice of hope. The audience gave her an ovation that drew an encore.
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Nashville Review
The multi-media event also featured a boys chorus and vocal, instrumental soloists and the outstanding talents of 16-year-old vocalist Kaitlyn Lusk as well as the conceptual art work of Alan Lee and John Howe. The evocative, ethereal vocals of Kaitlyn Lusk were absolutely beautiful throughout, especially during “Into the West.” I was moved beyond words by the performance.
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Sixteen-year-old vocalist Kaitlyn Lusk was a luminous , ethereal presence, adding high, accurate filigree to orchestral passages and singing the finale, “Intothe West”
Spokesman-Review
“Her voice has an enya-like purity”
Grand Rapids Press
Guest mezzo soprano Kaitlyn Lusk’s exquisite voice was a treasure, too, as she moved effortlessly from elfin simplicity, to restrained vibrato to velvet expressiveness. “Into the West” and “Gollum’s Song” fully showcased her stellar talent. Ethereal, almost hypnotic sound afting from Lusk stood up against images of grotesque , toothy Gollum on a bad hair day.
Des Moines Register
Similarly, the imported soloist Kaitlyn Lusk, who tours with these performances, left no room for doubt about why she has been chosen to sing parts such as “Gollum’s Song” and “Into The West.” Time and time again. Her dramatic and melodious voice hit operatic chords as well as jazzy ones, and ably held the audience’s attention near the end, as patience for the long piece began to wear thin.
Case Western Review
Sixteen-year-old soprano Kaitlyn Lusk was featured as a soloist throughout the second half of the evening; her angelic voice drifting over top of the music for “Into the West” and “Gollum’s Song” certainly made the evening more enjoyable. Lusk isn’t limited to epic movie symphonies – this talented young woman is also scheduled to solo in Mahler’s Fourth Symphony next year.
Pittsburgh Post Gazette
Kaitlyn Lusk’s voice was pretty enough throughout, although she apparently saved her best until the end, when she issued an emotional clarion call during “Into the West.”
Washington Times
Teenage soprano phenom Kaitlyn Lusk, sang movingly but all-too-briefly.
Recent Interviews
Interview with KPRI San Diego
One of the many blogger comments regarding Wolf Trap:
“When the movie ended and the credits started to roll – the Orchestra continued to play – no one got up to leave. Then the soloist – this devastatingly beautiful young lady in a long flowing, floor length dress – with an equally beautiful voice to match – sang “May it Be” by Enya – from the soundtrack. I love the song “May it Be.” It gives me goosebumps whenever I hear it. She knocked the song out of the Filene Center – I was under her Elvish spell – I had tears streaming down my cheek”
-Yelp.com
What the Bloggers are saying about Kaitlyn:
“The theme was performed by the absolutely astonishing by Kaitlyn Lusk, who, at sixteen years of age, is almost like what Judy Garland might have been with operatic training, and most astounding.”
“I would also really like a copy of her performance of Gollum’s Theme.”
“When she sang “Into the West”, the tears began to pour down my face. The music has THAT MUCH power.”
“The most amazing voice was that of Kaitlyn Lusk who appeared in The Two Towers and The Return of the King movements. Only 16 years old and her soprano voice is extremely mature and amazingly beautiful. I enjoyed this concert and was totally moved by the music and the vocals, especially Kaitlyn singing ‘Into the West’.”
“Nobody (my parents and I or anyone around us) could believe Kaitlyn was 15! Both Gollum’s Song and especially Into the West were wonderful.”
“When the concert was finished (it finished the way it should have with Kaitlyn’s wonderful voice singing Into the West), they all received a standing oveation.”
“Kaitlyn Lusk, the 16 year old native of State College, Pa, sang the song perfectly. She pretty much was the talk of the night after it.”
“Once again Kaitlyn Lusk sang. This time she put everyone in tears and that was no joke. I honestly have never heard anyone sing like that before. The place was dead silent for the end of the piece which was just orchestrated. She is my new hero!”
“The vocalist who did the main title songs, Kaitlyn Lusk, as stated in the program, looked and sounded just like Judy Garland, she totally blew us all away.”
“Her voice was just amazing; dark, rich and compelling on “Gollum’s Song,” made it horribly real and twisted. Wow! And then when she sang “Into The West,” she had me crying, which I haven’t done since the first time I saw the movie.”
“One of the soloists, singer Kaitlyn Lusk, performed “Into the West” beautifully, leading into the symphony’s finale. I’ve been to a number of symphony performances, but rarely have I stood for so long. The audience gave Kaitlyn, the orchestra, the choir and the maestro a thunderous standing ovation.”
“Her voice was so crystal clear and light at the same time. And she was so composed and refined in presentation that db and I were shocked to find out that she is only 16-years-old! So, look out for Kaitlyn Lusk!”