Bagnell came to the Governor's School from Richland Northeast High School in Columbia. While attending a summer program at the North Carolina School of the Arts, he met and befriended students from South Carolina who told him about the arts school in his own state. Shortly thereafter, he found himself at studying violin performance at the Governor's School.

Adjusting to the program here was challenging because at RNE he not only played the violin, but he "always sang and danced" and did theatre. But Bagnell likes a challenge, and soon fell in love with the Governor's School, where a major influence was strings teacher Katie Dey. His entire Governor's School experience, he says, prepared him for where he always dreamed of living: New York, New York.

Bagnell was accepted into NYU's Steinhardt School, Department of Music and Performing Arts. Although he concentrated on the violin and earned a BMA summa cum laude, he made time to pursue his various artistic interests. Throughout his college years he played gigs from classical to rock in various City venues, from the Bitter End to Town Hall. He gigged in recording studios, as well. Bagnell also auditioned for and got acting jobs in summer stock.That prepared him well for what happened a year ago.

In January 2007, Bagnell saw in Backstage, a major actors' trade magazine, an open call notice for the touring company of the Broadway hit Sweeney Todd. That was on a Friday; the audition was Monday. He prepared all weekend, walked into the audition, and delivered the goods. He got the role of "Tobias" and plays not only the violin, but also the clarinet, in the show.

Bagnell says their two-month stay at the revered American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, which started the tour, was "fantastic." They received glowing reviews that have been duplicated everywhere they have appeared.

As he looks down the road, he sees more and more opportunity in the arts for "crossovers." His advice for current students is to not only "get good at your discipline," but to "keep your hands in several art areas" because crossovers "are creating new and exciting art."

It may be difficult to know where to begin a description of Mr. Bagnell, but it is clear that his talent knows no end.

Call 864.467.3000 or order your Sweeney Todd tickets online at www.peacecenter.org.