Date: February 19, 2008
About: Brad Tomko - Class of 1984

Celebrate Broadway with Brad Tomko and the Quincy Symphony Chorus

Source: Quincy Society of Fine Arts
Author: Jane Polett

CELEBRATE BROADWAY with BRAD TOMKO and the Quincy Symphony Chorus

The Quincy Symphony Chorus will present CELEBRATE BROADWAY on Saturday, March 1 at 7:30pm at the First Union Congregational Church at the corner of 12th & Maine St. in Quincy. Former Quincyan Brad Tomko will join Dr. Phyllis Robertson and the Symphony Chorus in a performance of favorite songs from Broadway musicals. Works will be accompanied by a combo of piano, bass, and drums.
The chorus will host guest vocalist Brad Tomko. Tomko is a 1984 graduate of Quincy High School, and attended Quincy University before setting out on his solo career. He is known here in Quincy for his lead performances in the Quincy musicals of that time. Mr. Tomko has been featured on television, and performed as a headliner for Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and others. Tomko will sing a selection of hits from famous Broadway musicals including Phantom of the Opera and West Side Story among others.
The Symphony Chorus medley will touch on over 40 popular songs from 100 years of Broadway history, including Give My Regards to Broadway, Hello, Dolly!, Oh What a Beautiful Mornin’ and Sweeney Todd. They will perform a medley from Les Miserables including the favorites Bring Him Home, I Dreamed A Dream, and On My Own.
Tickets are $15 for adults, $12 for seniors, and free for children under 19, and are available at the door or in advance from Wild Birds Unlimited, 3502 Broadway, or by calling the symphony office at 217-222-2856. The performance is made possible in part by concert sponsor Dempsey, Dempsey & Moellring, PC, media sponsor STARadio WTAD, and by the Illinois Arts Council, a state agency.
The QSOA is holding a raffle to benefit the annual Young Peoples concerts for school children. Tickets are $20 each, or 6 for $100, and are available from any chorus, orchestra, Encore!, or board member. The grand prize drawing will be held at the Brahms, Beck, & Bruckner Finale Concert on April 19. Please support the QSOA Educational Outreach efforts. Visit the website www.qsoa.org or call the Symphony office for more information 222-2856.

Brad Tomko loved to sing at a very early age and grew up singing at Parkview Church where his father, Rev. George Tomko pastors. Brad had the privilege to study voice with the renowned Naomi Watts. He was her youngest student and at age 10 played the role of Amahl in “Amahl and the Night Visitors”. Brad was inducted into the Child Performers Hall of Fame in France for his performance.

Mr. Tomko attended Quincy Senior High School and then Quincy University while studying music education. While in school he participated in the musicals and various operas presented by the schools such as “Oklahoma”, “West Side Story”, “Brigadoon”, “Damn Yankees”, “HMS Pinafore”, and many more.

After his studies Brad traveled and sang with Fred Warring and the Pennsylvanians and starred in several television specials along with directing summer choral camps at Penn State University. Brad was also highlighted on “Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous” while entertaining at the wedding anniversary of Ernest Borgnine and his wife, Tova Traesnaes.

Mr. Tomko then sailed the world working as a Cruise Director for several major cruise lines and performed as a headliner for Norwegian Cruise Lines, Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, and Cunard Cruise Lines.

For the past 15 years Brad has been a resident of Atlanta Georgia where he teaches voice and piano while placing most of his time and efforts producing and directing productions for churches in the Atlanta area. Brad still performs solo work with the Atlanta Symphony Chorus and has appeared on the Atlanta based Trinity Broadcast Network (TBN).