Where Preparation Meets Opportunity: Taking the Stage with Andrea Bocelli

Belmont students turn preparation into performance, sharing the Fisher Center stage with Andrea Bocelli, Trisha Yearwood and other world-class artists

When the lights dimmed in the Fisher Center for the Performing Arts and the orchestra’s first notes began to rise, Belmont students found themselves in a moment few student musicians ever experience –– sharing the stage with Andrea Bocelli, one of the world’s most renowned tenors. That night, they weren’t just performing, they were living out the University’s promise to prepare students for extraordinary, real-world experiences. 

The Oct. 16 concert, “An Evening of Hope,” marked the public launch of Belmont’s historic Hope Transforms campaign, a $700 million initiative to shape the University’s future through character, creativity and innovation. With a lineup that included Trisha Yearwood, CeCe Winans, Michael W. Smith and others in addition to Bocelli, the event became both a milestone in Belmont’s story and a testament to what it means to prepare students for lives of excellence and purpose. 

An Invitation You Can’t Turn Down 

Director of Orchestras Dr. Christopher Fashun said it was an immediate “yes” when he received the call that Belmont students could perform with Bocelli. 

“This is one of those opportunities you just don’t say no to,” Fashun said. “Even for us as faculty, it’s a career moment — to work with an artist of this caliber. For our students, it’s another example of what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” 

That preparation came fast. The orchestra had just completed its fall concert and was already rehearsing for upcoming projects, including “Christmas at Belmont.” Suddenly, another high-profile program — 21 pieces of music, including 17 with Bocelli — was added to their repertoire. 

“We had to balance two programs simultaneously,” Fashun explained. “But that’s the kind of challenge that shapes professional musicians. Our students rose to it with focus, grace and excellence.” 

More than 50 students were selected through an intensive audition process that considered both technical ability and readiness for the demands of a live, world-class performance. 

“There are very few schools that provide this kind of access to undergrads,” Fashun said. “You just don’t see students — some even in their first or second year — collaborating with professionals at this level. That’s just not normal.” 

The night before the concert, students gathered for their first rehearsal with Eugene Kohn, Bocelli’s longtime conductor and music director. The rehearsal was brief, efficient and charged with energy. 

For many, it was their first glimpse into the precision and professionalism of a world-touring production — and a lesson in what it means to adapt quickly and deliver at the highest level. 

Preparation in Motion 

For harpist Audrey Smith, the process was as thrilling as it was demanding. She performed alongside another Belmont harpist and faculty mentor — a rare intergenerational experience that reflected Belmont’s collaborative, community-centered approach to learning. 

“It was so exciting to prepare for a performance of this caliber with some of my closest mentors and friends,” Smith said. “It left me feeling inspired to keep chasing even greater dreams.” 

The moment she remembers most came during Bocelli’s final song, “Nessun Dorma." 

“Bocelli was singing in front of me, the choir was behind me and the harp’s glissandos filled the air,” she recalled. “It was surreal. I wish I could go back and just stay in that moment.” 

Smith said the experience reshaped her sense of what’s possible. “Coming to Belmont, I never imagined the opportunities I’d be given here,” she said. “It makes me believe that even bigger dreams are within reach.” 

Seeking Excellence in Every Detail 

For Chorale members Logan Bressman and Rox Davidson, performing alongside Bocelli demanded not only musicianship but also adaptability. Rehearsals were short and intense — and some key collaborators, including Bocelli himself, wouldn’t appear until performance night. That compressed schedule tested every student’s adaptability and focus, revealing the professional polish that Belmont ensembles are known for. 

“We never rehearsed with Mr. Bocelli — it was a walk-on and perform situation,” Bressman said. “But that speaks to his excellence and ours, being able to support him at that level.” 

The experience mirrored the realities of the professional music industry: fast-paced, unpredictable, yet deeply collaborative. 

“You prepare individually, then come together and make something beautiful in real time,” Bressman said. “Belmont gives us those real-world experiences constantly.” 

Davidson agreed. An opera singer herself, she found the performance both inspiring and affirming. 

“Belmont operates at a very professional level,” she said. “When the conductor arrived, everything felt natural — focused, efficient, ready. That’s how we work here.” 

She added that the performance reminded her of the power of the music itself. 

“Opera isn’t a dying art — it’s alive and captivating. Seeing an audience respond with that much energy was incredible. Everyone was just so engaged and happy to be there.” 

From the Classroom to the Spotlight 

While the University Orchestra and Chorale supported Bocelli, another Belmont student stepped into the spotlight. Randi Keira Culver, a commercial music major, joined Trisha Yearwood for a special duet performance. 

“At Belmont, my professors have helped strengthen my voice and skills, encouraged me personally and broadened my professional connections,” Culver said. “I’ve looked up to Ms. Yearwood for years and have sung her songs on many stages. Performing beside a Grammy-winning artist affirmed everything I’ve learned here — that Belmont truly prepares you to step into moments you’ve only dreamed of.” 

Hope That Transforms 

For Fashun, the entire experience — the rehearsals, the preparation, the collaboration and the awe of the performance — embodied Belmont’s vision of transformation through excellence. 

“It’s one thing to watch greatness,” he said, “but it’s another to realize you already belong in that space. That’s what I want our students to feel.” 

That belief in belonging is central to Belmont’s Hope Transforms campaign, which calls the community to invest in people, spaces and opportunities that shape lives of purpose and possibility. It's a lesson that excellence isn’t something to aspire to later; it’s something they live now. 

“When our students talk about their experiences and the connections they’ve made with industry professionals,” Fashun added, “I’m blown away. The level of sophistication they have this early in their journey — it’s remarkable.” 

As the final chords of the world class production faded and the audience rose to its feet, Belmont students stood shoulder-to-shoulder with icons — not as observers, but as peers fully ready for the stages ahead.