The Leading Ladies – Official Historical Information

In 2001, John Sawoski arranged, orchestrated, played, and conducted a concert at the Library of Congress, produced by Dennis McNeil, and featuring Lisa Vroman and two other sopranos, all three of whom had played the role of Christine Daaé in Andrew Lloyd Websber’s The Phantom of the Opera.

Sawoski and the Phantom sopranos then co-founded a partnership, creating an act called “The Leading Ladies,” which they performed across the country until 2006 in many live concert venues as well as on television and CD. Aside from hiring the musicians, conducting, playing the piano, and co-managing the business, Sawoski created around 200 arrangements and orchestrations for trio, quartet, six players, ten players, 14 players, 18-21 piece big band, small orchestra (around 30-35 players), and larger orchestras of up to 53 musicians (with expanded woodwind and percussion sections), much of which is still being performed around the world today. He also co-produced the group’s CD in 2002.

The Leading Ladies, under the musical direction of John Sawoski, performed at theatres such as the Annenberg ( Palm Springs, CA ), the Norris (Palos Verdes, CA), and the Cinegrill in Hollywood. They appeared in galas for Oklahoma City Repertory Theatre, A.G. Edwards and the American Heart Association, in San Francisco ’s R.E.A.F. AIDS benefits and L.A. ’s S.T.A.G.E. benefits, and on national television for the 2004 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon – sharing the stage with Michael Feinstein, Maureen McGovern, Lucie Arnaz, Tony Danza, Jack Jones and many others. Musicians contracted and/or conducted by Sawoski included members of the Stockton Symphony, top Los Angeles session and freelance players like Rick Baptist, Ken Wild, Larry White, Gene Cipriano, Sal Lozano, Albie Berk, Dave Tull, Dave Stone, Steve Pemberton, Kirk Smith, and many more. The group also appeared with the Capistrano Valley Symphony and the Boca Pops, with orchestrations and piano-playing by John Sawoski.

Eventually the Phantom’s leading ladies Laurie Gayle Stephenson, Mary D’Arcy, and Luann Aronson performed with the group as well.

Playbill Online published several articles about the new group, among them “…’Leading Ladies’ … New Concert Act”

Regarding Sawoski’s work, The Leading Ladies vocalists said: “We feel really lucky to have found our musical director, John Sawoski. He’s a fabulous pianist and his arrangements are so wonderful!”

Others said:

“Extraordinary… Superb voices and blend are truly magic…” — Lee Miller, Producer, 2004 Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon

“I could have listened all night.” — Rick Rogers, The Daily Oklahoman

“Pure, elegant fun!” — Peter Jaffe, conductor, The Stockton Symphony

Satisfied clients included:

THE 2004 JERRY LEWIS MDA TELETHON

THE PALM SPRINGS AIR MUSEUM

THE AMERICAN HEART ASSOCIATION

THE CHILDREN’S BURN FOUNDATION

THE CENTER THEATRE GROUP, LOS ANGELES

THE MIZNER CENTRE FOR THE ARTS, BOCA RATON, FL

THE RICHMOND-ERMET AIDS FOUNDATION, SAN FRANCISCO

THE JEWISH VOCATIONAL SERVICE

THE RUBICON THEATRE COMPANY, VENTURA, CA

A.G. EDWARDS

THE QUEEN CREEK PERFORMING ARTS CENTER, QUEEEN CREEK, AZ