The Wizards of Winter

The Wizards of Winter were formed in 2009 by Scott Kelly and Sharon Kelly as a way to give back to the local community.{{cite web|url=http://www.plazaliveorlando.com/#/event/908633-wizards-winter-orlando/ |title=Plaza Live Orlando }}{{cite web|url=http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/music/index.ssf/2013/12/the_wizards_of_winter_keyboard.html |title=Lehigh Valley Live: The Wizards of Winter |date=3 December 2013 }} A holiday concert was held to support a local food pantry which was in severe financial straits. They continued to give back to the community through several successful holiday music performances in 2010. In 2011 the band embarked upon writing their own Christmas rock opera, Tales Beneath a Northern Star.

The Wizards of Winter released their own self-titled Christmas rock opera album based on entirely original material in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.plazaliveorlando.com/#/event/908633-wizards-winter-orlando/ |title=Plaza Live Orlando }}{{cite web|url=http://www.seaoftranquility.org/reviews.php?op=showcontent&id=17108 |title= Sea of Tranquility Four Star Review of The Wizards of Winter }} In 2015, they released their second album, The Magic of Winter,{{cite web|url=http://www.pollstar.com/news_article.aspx?ID=821377 |title=Pollstar: The Magic of Winter Album }}{{cite web|url=http://www.craveonline.com/music/922819-the-wizards-of-winter-kick-off-holiday-music-onslaught-with-the-magic-of-winter-album-stream |title=Crave Online }} which includes their single featured on Yahoo Music "The Spirit of Christmas".{{cite web|url=https://www.yahoo.com/music/video-premiere-see-wizards-of-winters-the-182909954.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma |title= Yahoo Music: The Spirit of Christmas |date= November 2, 2015 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.huntingtonnews.net/124917 |title= Huntington News }} Cover art for both albums was designed by rock cover artist Ioannis.{{cite web|url=http://www.melodicrock.com/artist/wizards-winter |title= Melodic Rock}}

Throughout their tours, the band supports several charities including BackPack Friends and Tunnels to Towers. In addition they donate proceeds from sales of their single "March Of The Metal Soldiers" to the Wounded Warrior Project.{{cite web|url=http://www.melodicrock.com/artist/wizards-winter |title= Melodic Rock}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nj.com/warrenreporter/index.ssf/2014/11/angels_for_mark_charity_christ.html |title=Angels for Mark Charity Christmas Show |date=2014-11-07 }} In 2014 The Wizards began working with Breaking Band LLC. Breaking Bands is a joint venture between Jon Zazula, former CEO and Founder of Megaforce Records ( the man behind Metallica) and Chuck Billy of Testament.{{cite web|url= https://blabbermouth.net/news/testaments-chuck-billy-industry-veterans-join-forces-in-new-management-venture|title= TESTAMENT's CHUCK BILLY, Industry Veterans Join Forces in New Management Venture|date= February 25, 2014}}

The Wizards have toured with six of the original members of Trans-Siberian Orchestra (Tommy Farese, Guy LeMonnier, Tony Gaynor, Michael Lanning, John O. Reilly and Joe Cerisano). Guy LeMonnier and Tony Gaynor joined the band as an official members in 2014.{{cite web|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/bwwmusic/article/THE-WIZARDS-OF-WINTER-A-TRANS-SIBERIAN-ORCHESTRA-EXPERIENCE-Comes-to-Ridgefield-Playhouse-129-20151105 |title=Broadway World: The Wizards of Winter }}{{cite web|url=http://www.playstationtheater.com/events/detail/252662 |title= Play Station Theater:The Wizards of Winter }} In 2015 The Wizards of Winter toured with Greg Smith, longtime bassist-vocalist for Ted Nugent.{{cite web | author=Corinna Lorenz | date=November 19, 2015 | url=http://theageofmetal.com/the-wizards-of-winter-holiday-tour-experience-begins-today-joined-by-ted-nugent-bassist-greg-smith/2 | title=The Wizards of Winter joined by Ted Nugent bassist | work=The Age of Metal | access-date=December 21, 2016 }}{{Dead link|date=June 2018 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=no }} In 2016, Greg Smith joined the band as an official member.{{cite web | author= | date=September 21, 2016 | url=http://bravewords.com/news/wizards-of-winter-announce-additional-holiday-performance-dates |title=WIZARDS OF WINTER Announce Additional Holiday Performance Dates - Bravewords.com | website=BraveWords.com | access-date=December 21, 2016 | quote=Greg Smith - Bass}}

In November 2017, the band released a new single in advance of their tour. "Salzburg Carol" is a medley featuring segments of "My Favorite Things" and "Carol Of The Bells" arranged by keyboardist Scott Kelly.{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/wizards-of-winter-streaming-new-single-a-christmas-dream-behind-the-scenes-studio-video-posted|title= BraveWords: WIZARDS OF WINTER STREAMING NEW SINGLE "A CHRISTMAS DREAM"; BEHIND-THE-SCENES STUDIO VIDEO POSTED|date= November 10, 2017}}

In June 2018, long-time TSO drummer John O. Reilly joined the Wizards of Winter as a full member.{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/wizards-of-winter-announce-new-drummer-former-trans-siberian-orchestra-member-john-o-reilly|title=WIZARDS OF WINTER ANNOUNCE NEW DRUMMER, FORMER TRANS-SIBERIAN ORCHESTRA MEMBER JOHN O. REILLY|date=June 19, 2018|accessdate=June 19, 2018}}

In September 2018, the band announced that vocalist Guy LeMonnier was not returning for the 2018 tour and welcomed Karl Scully of The Irish Tenors into the band. Also new to the band's lineup for the 2018 tour were guitarist Chris Green of Tyketto and vocalist Rebecca Graae.{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/wizards-of-winter-holiday-rock-ensemble-announce-2018-holiday-season-tour-dates-plus-new-members|date=September 3, 2018|accessdate=September 3, 2018|title=WIZARDS OF WINTER - Holiday Rock Ensemble Announce 2018 Holiday Season Tour Dates, Plus New Members}}

In the Spring of 2019, it was revealed that the band were in the studio to record a new album {{cite web|url=http://www.musicandartinterviews.com/2019/04/john-oreilly.html|title=A Conversation with John O.Reilly|date=April 28, 2019|accessdate=April 28, 2019}} and guitarist Steve Brown of Trixter/Def Leppard had joined the band.{{cite web|url=http://bravewords.com/news/trixter-guitarist-steve-brown-joins-holiday-rock-ensemble-the-wizards-of-winter|title=TRIXTER GUITARIST STEVE BROWN JOINS HOLIDAY ROCK ENSEMBLE THE WIZARDS OF WINTER|date=May 30, 2019 |accessdate=June 3, 2019}}

September 2019 saw the release of their 10-song album, The Christmas Dream. Music videos were released for "Handel's Torch" and "Secrets of the Snowglobe". The album includes four instrumental and six vocal songs, with vocalists Sharon Kelly, Karl Scully, and Vincent Jiovino singing lead. Vincent Jiovino and Karl Scully left the band after the 2019 tour. The band did not tour in 2020 due to Covid restrictions. The 2021 tour saw the return of Guy Lemmonier and the introduction of Manny Cabo who was best known for being a Season 9 finalist on NBC's The Voice{{cite web|url=http://www.musicandartinterviews.com/2019/11/the-wizards-of-winter.html|title=A Conversation with The Wizards of Winter|date=November 10, 2019|accessdate=November 10, 2019}}

During their 2023 tour the Wizards filmed a 2 hour made for TV Holiday special with " Song of the Mountains" for PBS. It is airing nationwide in (2) one hour programs. The band released a double live album titled "The Wizards of Winter Live Volume I & Volume II" that was recorded during the PBS event and others during the 2023 tour. It began shipping in November 2024.

• Tales Beneath a Northern Star (2011)
• The Wizards of Winter (2014)
• The Magic of Winter (2015)
• The Christmas Dream (2019)
• The Wizards of Winter Live Volume I & Volume II (2024)

{{Reflist|2}}

• {{Official website|http://www.thewizardsofwinter.com}} of The Wizards of Winter
• {{Facebook|TheWizardsofWinter|The Wizards of Winter}}
• [https://www.yahoo.com/music/video-premiere-see-wizards-of-winters-the-182909954.html?soc_src=mail&soc_trk=ma The Spirit of Christmas on Yahoo Music]
• [http://www.guitarworld.com/wizards-winter-premiere-new-song-flight-snow-angels-exclusive/25731 Guitar World Interview with Scott Kelly and Fred Gorhau]
• [http://www.musicandartinterviews.com/2019/11/the-wizards-of-winter.html 2019 Interview with The Wizards of Winter]
• [https://blabbermouth.net/news/testaments-chuck-billy-industry-veterans-join-forces-in-new-management-venture]

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Category:Progressive rock musical groups from New York (state)

Category:Musical groups established in 2009

Category:Christmas music