In Sydney, Mnjoyan became aware that a lot of tribute concerts were being performed, noting that no one had yet tackled Whitney. She approached conductor and musical director, George Ellis, who had put together the series of “Orchestrated” concerts including tributes to The Beatles, ABBA, Fleetwood Mac, David Bowie, and many more.
He liked the idea of doing a Whitney Houston tribute and he connected Mnjoyan with the Willoughby Symphony Orchestra and things took off from there.
Mnjoyan insists that the concert is a tribute and not an impersonation.
“It’s not gonna be better than her, it’s not gonna be the same as her, it’s not going to be even something like her – because Whitney is the one and only, and no one can be like her.”
Instead, Mnjoyan sees this a an homage from the heart.
“It’s going to be like Masha singing Whitney Houston: the way that I feel her, the way that I feel the music, the lyrics and the way I accept music.” Singing an all-Whitney Houston show is something Mnjoyan has always aspired to do. “So yeah, it’s a dream come true!”
What Mnjoyan wants is for the audience to share in her joy of Whitney’s music.
“It’s going to be sort of a party concert. Our goal is to make people feel positive. Obviously we’re gonna include big songs – without “All By Myself” and “I Have Nothing” and stuff like that, a Whitney concert is not gonna be the same. But we’re going to make it more active and more positive with beats and stuff.”
Whitney Orchestrated