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Metropolitan Opera tenor Michael Fabiano and
soprano Angela Meade, both AVA 2009 graduates,
mingle with concert guests at the Champagne and
Dessert reception./Joyce Santora
Bravo for BrAVA! The Academy of Vocal Arts celebrated its 75th birthday in a big way last Wednesday night with "BrAVA Philadelphia! A Concert ExtrAVAganza of Opera Stars" at the Kimmel Center. With four opera stars (and AVA graduates) "on loan" from the Metropolitan Opera - sopranos Angela Meade and Indra Thomas and tenors James Valenti and Michael Fabiano - headlining the concert, Maestro Christofer Macatsoris brought the audience to its feet for standing ovations.
Also featured were AVA resident artists, including fourth-year baritone Christopher Bolduc, third-year baritone Alex Lawrence, second-year soprano Michelle B. Johnson and first-year mezzo-soprano Margaret Mezzacappa.
The evening began at the Hyatt at the Bellevue with a cocktail reception and dinner for 500 patrons, followed by the concert at the Kimmel Center and a champagne and dessert reception back at the Bellevue, where guests were able to mingle with and greet the opera stars and resident artists.
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AVA Board Chairman Mackie MacLean of Haverford and his wife,
Charlotte, congratulate AVA resident artists mezzo-soprano Olivia Vote,
soprano Corinne Winters and tenor Sean Arnold after the concert./
Joyce Santora
The event raised $500,000 for academy scholarships, made possible, in part, by a matching grant from honorary chairs Emilio and Carole Haas Gravagno of Wayne and the Haas family.
During its 75-year history, the AVA has provided tuition-free opera and vocal training, and financial support during training, to exceptionally talented and committed young singers who have the potential for international stature, presenting them in professional performances that are accessible to Philadelphia's wide community of opera enthusiasts.
Admission is determined by competitive annual auditions, with an average of 8 to 10 singers admitted each year. The roster of resident artists averages 25-30 in total and they receive training equivalent to more than $70,000 per year.
The Academy of Vocal Arts was founded in 1934 by Helen Corning Warden. The 75th Anniversary Gala was co-chaired by R. Randolph Apgar and Lucinda S. Landreth, with Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, as the presenting sponsor.
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