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PARTNERS for the Arts, Inc.
2023 10th National Opera Competition
Awards:
First Prize – $10,000; Second – $5,000; Third – $2,500;
Audience Prize – $1,000 – Judges Special Award – $1,000;
All Finalists $500
We are pleased to present the winners of PARTNERS for the Arts
10th National Opera Competition
First Prize
Magdalena Kužma – soprano
2nd Prize and Audience Choice.
Donghoon Kang – bass-baritone
3rd Prize
Amanda Simms – soprano
Judges Special Award
Ashlyn Rock – soprano
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Donors Make a Difference
Our most sincere thank you to:
Alan Savada and Will Stevenson – 2nd prize in honor of their son, Samuel J. Savada-Stevenson, Drs. James and Wanda Trefil – 3rd prize in Honor of Sylvia Trefil Mestek, Dr. Bob Misbin – The Audience Prize Award, Ms. Cynthia Bianchi in memory of Holly Bianchi and Dr. William Panici each sponsoring a Finalist Award, and Victoria Tresansky, who covered all the other finalists’ Awards. And all the other donors who made it possible for us this year to give over $22,000 in prizes.
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AMADEUS CONCERTS, in collaboration with PARTNERS for the Arts
“An Opera Celebration”
with baritone John Allen Nelson, soprano Ashley Rose Larkin, accompanist Frank Conlon, soprano Melissa Mino, and tenor Joseph Haughton.
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“Some Enchanted Evening”
Opera Singers got to Broadway!
The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein
South Pacific & The King and I
Soprano Emily Casey, Dr. Elaine Walter, tenor Nathan Hawsey, mezzo-soprano Nakia Verner, baritone Gustavo Ahualli,
and maestro Richard Fazio
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Trinity Chamber Orchestra, in collaboration with PARTNERS Semi-staged favorite excerpts from Lehár’s “The Merry Widow” by Dr. Elaine Walter.
Guest singer baritone Gustavo Ahualli, 2nd prize winner 2014 Competition soprano Emily Casey, Competition finalist mezzo-soprano Grace Gilday, guest singer tenor Michael Butler, and maestro Richard Fazio.
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Opera Afternoon with PARTNERS for the Arts presenting baritone Geoffrey DiGiorgio, soprano Melissa Mino, mezzo-soprano Pascale Spinney, tenor Michael Butler, and pianist Frank Conlon.
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Accompanist Frank Conlon, soprano Ashley Larkin, tenor Israel Lozano, with the youngest member of the audience who was mesmerized by the performances, mezzo-soprano Margerita Yefimenko, baritone Geoffrey DiGiorgio, and BMS director Dr. Ivo Kaltchev.