As a renowned and versatile pianist whose styles encompass a wide range of musical genres, Philip Fortenberry is an artist with an equally expansive career.
Philip began playing piano at age four, performed his first solo concert at age twelve. Philip holds a Master of Music Degree in classical piano performance from New Jersey City University, and continued his piano studies as a private student of Myoko Lotto at The Juilliard School.

Early in his career, Philip became the musical director and on-stage pianist for the hit off-Broadway revue, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY. He was also the musical supervisor for the West End version of the show in London. Philip played for 10 Broadway shows and eight national tours including CATS, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, RAGTIME, SEUSSICAL THE MUSICAL, SIDESHOW, and THE LION KING. He toured the U.S. and Canada in concert performances of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER starring Michael Crawford.

 

Philip made his Carnegie Hall debut in 1986 as the pianist/conductor for Eartha Kitt and later returned to Carnegie Hall in concert with The Three Irish Tenors. He has also performed as pianist for singer Charlotte Church in Avery Fisher Hall at Lincoln Center. 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. Later that year, by invitation of President Bush, ‘Flicka’ and Philip performed at the Economic Summit of Industrialized Nations. Philip also performed at the 40th Anniversary Celebration of the United Nations, and in 1996 he was privileged to accompany singer Laurie Beechman at the 70th birthday gala for Lady Margaret Thatcher in Washington, D.C.

After 25 years of living in NYC, Philip became a resident of Las Vegas in 2004. He was the associate conductor for the North American premiere of the rock music extravaganza, WE WILL ROCK YOU, at the Paris. Philip also played and conducted for HAIRSPRAY at the Luxor and MAMMA MIA! at Mandalay Bay. For 8 1⁄2 years he was the associate conductor for the Las Vegas production of JERSEY BOYS. In 2008 he was invited to be an artist-in-residence at the famed Liberace Museum where he performed 300 concerts of his solo show, LIBERACE AND ME. In 2013, Philip was the piano/body double for Michael Douglas’ award-winning performance as Liberace in the HBO biopic, BEHIND THE CANDELABRA.

In 2014 Philip became the first recipient of the “Ghost Light Award” as Best Musician on Broadway as the pianist and associate conductor for the Broadway production of ROCKY. He was honored again that same year with the “Encore Award for Musical Excellence” presented by the Nevada School of the Arts. In 2004, Philip received the Distinguished Service Award fromWilliam Carey University, in Hattiesburg, MS. In 2019 William Carey conferred upon him the degree, Doctor of Music, honoris causa.

 

Night of a Thousand Stars/ Don’t Cry For Me Argentina (from “Evita”)

Everything’s Alright/ I Don’t Know How to Love Him (from “Jesus Christ Superstar”)

Overture from Phantom of the Opera/ All I Ask of You (from “Phantom of the Opera”)

Gethsemane (from “Jesus Christ Superstar”)

Ragtime Suite: ( from “Ragtime”)

Prologue

New Music

Gettin' Ready Rag

Wayfaring Stranger ( Traditional American Folk Tune) 

Somewhere Over the Rainbow ( from “The Wizard of Oz”)

Rosamund’s Dream ( from “The Robber Bridegroom”) 

Let it Go ( from “Frozen”) 

Beauty and the Beast ( from “Beauty and the Beast”)  

A Whole New World ( from “Aladdin”)

Under the Sea ( from “The Little Mermaid”)

Can You Feel The Love Tonight ( from “The Lion King”)

Tradition

Matchmaker

Sunrise Sunset

Dancin’ Queen

Mamma Mia!

I Have a Dream

Rhapsody in Blue ( themes)

Embraceable You

I Got Rhythm

Someone to Watch Over Me

The Sound of Music ( from “The Sound of Music”) 

People Will Say We’re In Love ( from “Oklahoma!”) 

Some Enchanted Evening ( from “South Pacific”) 

Younger Than Springtime ( from “South Pacific”) 

We Kiss in the Shadows ( from “The King and I”) 

I Have Dreamed ( from “The King and I”) 

If I Loved You ( from “Carousel”) 

Something Wonderful ( from “The King and I”) 

Carousel Waltz ( from “Carousel”) 

Honey Bun ( from “South Pacific”) 

Oklahoma ( from “Oklahoma!”)

Nothin’ Like a Dame ( from “South Pacific”) 

Do Re Mi ( from “The Sound of Music”) 

 

* Program is subject to change