On Dec. 19, former Longwood student Tony Kent conducted a Benjamin Britten Opera in the renowned Hamburg, Germany, Staatsoper.

Five years ago he sang the tenor solo in the Commonwealth Chorale’s performance of Handel’s “Messiah” in Farmville.

In Salzburg, Austria, Kent studied at the famed Mozarteum and was hired immediately as soloist, choir director and voice coach in an Austrian Opera Company.

Maestro Kent was then engaged to conduct musical theater productions from Berlin to Hamburg. He is now a leading permanent conductor of the Hamburg “Lion King.” He also teaches voice at the musical theater school in that city.

“Kent, with over 35 years of experience  in musical theater, has reached a new peak being spotlighted as conductor of a major opera production in Hamburg, Germany,” Chorale conductor Norman Williams said.