Dear Friends:

This evening we are here to celebrate Bel Canto, Beautiful Singing. Tonight we celebrate TWENTY years of The Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship and its outstanding and untiring work on behalf of American opera singers through our educational program.

It is with just pride that I am able to share with you an update of some of the outstanding winners of the past 20 years - young people who are achieving tremendous success throughout the world of opera with their glorious voices.

With your continued support it is my hope, prayer and desire that God will bring us faithfully through the next twenty with even greater fervor and success.

Sincerely,

Annamaria Saritelli-DiPanni, Founder/Director
The Bel Canto Vocal Scholarship Foundation

Paul Corona, baritone and one of last year's finalists, has made his debut with Chicago Lyric Opera to rave reviews.

Laura Vlasak Nolan, our mezzo soprano finalist of last year, has been engaged to sing Waltraute in Wagner's Die Walkure at the Metropolitan Opera this coming season.

Lucas Meacham, baritone, was our second prize winner in 2005. This season he will join the rosters of the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, and the Metropolitan Opera. For his debut at the Met he will sing the role of General Rayevsky in Prokofiev's War and Peace.

Duana Demus, a 2004 finalist, has sung leading soprano roles with San Francisco Lyric Opera, and has won the hearts of audiences and the praise of critics with her beautiful interpretations of Tosca, Amelia (in Verdi's Masked Ball), Aida, and Giorgetta in Puccini's Il Tabarro.

Jason Switzer, bass baritone and 2004 first prize winner performs this season with Center City Opera Theater in Philadelphia, in the world premiere of Liebermann's The Picture of Dorian Gray.

Mara Bonde, soprano, 2003 top prize winner, sings Naughty Marietta with the Light Opera Oklahoma, in Tulsa Performing Arts Center this season. She has won critical accolades for her electric stage presence and sweet purity of tone.

Awet Andemicael, soprano and 2001 first prize winner, has appeared with Brooklyn Opera, San Diego Opera, Boston Symphony, Los Angeles Philharmonic and Pittsburgh Symphony. An adept concert singer as well as operatic soprano, Ms. Andemicael has joined the Handel and Haydn Society as soprano soloist in numerous acclaimed performances.

Melissa Shippen, soprano, first place winner in 2000, made her Carnegie Hall debut in 2001 as soprano soloist in Mahler's 2nd Symphony. She returned to Carnegie Hall in 2003 as soloist in Britten's War Requiem. Operatic appearances have included those with Palm Beach Opera House , Aspen Opera, and Julliard Opera Theater. In 2005 she won the American Berlin Opera Foundation Scholarship and appeared on the stage of Deutsche Oper Berlin the following season in The Magic Flute.

Valerian Ruminski, bass, our 1998 top prize winner, appeared recently in the International Metropolitan Opera (PBS) broadcast of Bellini's I Puritani opposite Anna Netrebko. He is returning to the Metropolitan Opera for the 2007-2008 season.

Mary Phillips, mezzo soprano, won our top award in 1991. Recent engagements have included a Carnegie Hall concert performance of Ernani with Eve Queler's Opera Orchestra of New York. She has also sung Preziosilla in Verdi's La Forza del Destino at the Metropolitan Opera this past season. Mary Phillips has garnered praise for her compelling stage presence in a wide range of repetoire in venues throughout the United States and Europe.

Lori Phillips, reknowned American soprano, was our top prize winner in 1990. Her voice remains one of the most expressive and innovative in the opera industry. Her recent performance of Turandot with the New York City Opera won her great critical acclaim. She is engaged to sing Senta in Wagner's The Flying Dutchman with the Seattle Opera this season. Recent engagements include those with the Metropolitan Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago, and Vancouver Opera. She is an internationally respected singer of the first rank.

Return To Top