New Voices

Opera at FlorhamPresents

The Twenty-Ninth AnnualVocal Competition & Musicale

Honoring Violetta DuPontLuncheon: 12:30 pm

Program: 2:00 pm

Sunday, April 23, 2017Lenfell Hall -The Mansion

Fairleigh Dickinson University285 Madison Avenue, Madison, NJ 07940

Distinguished Adjudicators:• Scott Barnes • Stephen De Maio • Eve Queler

• James Thurmond Smithgall • Barbara Ann Testa

In residence at Fairleigh Dickinson University,Madison, NJ 07940 P.O. Box 343,

Convent Station, New Jersey 07961973-443-8620 • www.operaatflorham.org

Funding has been made possible in part by funds from Morris Arts Council through the New Jersey State Council of The Arts Department of State, A Partner Agency of The National Endowment for The Arts.

The CompetitionThe Opera at Florham Vocal Competition was established by the Opera Guild in 1987 to honor Mrs. Violetta Pollara DuPont, benefactor and co-founder of Opera at Florham, for her life- long dedication and vision for our company. Opera at Florham, celebrating its 35th year since its founding in 1982, continues to sponsor this Vocal Competition in concert with its mission to promote the careers of young, promising artists, who are pursuing a career in opera. The goal of the competition, which is open to all singers, 25-35 years of age, is to support their growth and development by offering cash prizes and an opportunity to later perform publicly with Opera at Florham in their Musicales and/or their opera productions.

Today’s finalists have been selected from 60 entrants chosen from 100 applicants throughout the United States and other countries. Preliminary auditions were held at the Kosciusko Foundation, New York City on April 12, 13 and 14, 2017

AcknowledgementsWe gratefully acknowledge Stephen De Maio, President of The Gerda Lissner Foundation, for organizing the auditions at their facility (Kosciusko Foundation) in New York City and chairing the competition committee. We extend our appreciation to Fairleigh Dickenson University’s Provost for Madison NJ campus,Dr Peter Woolley, for providing desserts and coffee and for permitting OAF to use Lenfell Hall. Appreciation also goes to the donors of the prizes and encouragement awards.

Prizes: First Prize ($5,000) Courtesy of The Gerda Lissner Foundation, New York CitySecond Prize ($3,000): Courtesy of Mr and Mrs Edward McColgan, in honor of their late daughter, Elizabeth McColgan.Third Prize ($1,500) Courtesy of the DuPont children in honor of their mother, Violetta DuPontEncouragement Awards ($200) Dee Robertson, Pauline Rush, Marie Bosco, Theresa Kandalaft, and the Opera at Florham Board of Trustees.Special Donation ($5,000) Courtesy Karl Michaelis From The LissnerCharitable Fund

Competition CommitteeChairman: Stephen DeMaio, President Gerda Lissner Foundation and Board of Trustees Member ot Opera at FlorhamScoring Accountants: Joseph Dupont, Collette DuPont and Pat WickensPreliminary & Final Adjudicators: Stephen De Maio, Eve Queler, Barbara Ann Testa, Scott Barnes and James Thurmond SinnittigalAccompanist: Mary Pinto, Preliminary Auditions & Competition, & Vice President OAFVolunteers: Pauline Rush, Carol Bernstein, Al & Pat Wickens, Guy Brennert, Irene Burczynski, Joan Del Giudice

From Opera To American SongbookIn 2017, Opera At Florham will celebrate its 35th Anniversary

Board of Trustees, Opera at FlorhamOfficers:

President: Joan Del Giudice, Vice President: Mary PintoSecretary: Patricia Wickens, Treasurer: Albert Wickens

Additional Members:Stephen DeMaio, Joseph DuPont, Richard Kopp, Pauline Rush,

Barbara Ann Testa, Dee Robertson, Jeffrey Sapara, Rhoda WolinPublic Relations - Marketing Coordinator: Amanda Zook

Sean Mehr, FDU Student Liason & OAF Financial Assistant

CONTRIBUTIONSAngels

Stephen DeMaio, President, The Gerda Lissner FoundationMary Pinto, Organizer & Piano Accompanist of OAF Musicales

Adrianne Petillo, Constant ContactAlbert & Patricia Wickens

Dee RobertsonWilliam Henderson, Videographer

Barbara Ann TestaSupporters

Guy Brennert • Marie Bosco • Margaret BushMr. & Mrs. Harold Carlson • Judy Martorelli

Pauline Rush • Marietta & David AlitzDolores Croneberger • Dorothy Moxley

Betty McColganPatrons

Doris Bogert • Lucille Pierce • Rich Celler

The 2017 - 29th Opera at Florham Vocal Competition and MusicaleHonoring Violetta DuPont, in collaboration with The Gerda Lissner Foundation

PROGRAM

1. Norman Garrett, Baritone VERDI ……………………………………..“È sogno? o realtà, Ford’s aria from Falstaff 2. Gabriella Sam, Soprano PUCCINI …………………………….. “Signore, ascolta!´from Turandot

3. Natalie Naudus, Mezzo-soprano STRAUSS ............................................ “Sein wir wieder gut” from Ariadne auf Naxos

4. Andrew Paulson, Baritone BELLINI…………………………………… “Ah, per sempre“ from I Puritani 5. Mia Pafumi, SopranoVERDI ………………………………..“Caro nome che il mio cor” from Rigoletto 6. Mackenzie Gotcher, Tenor CILEA ………………………… “È la solita storia del pastore” from L’arlesiana 7. Anush Avetisyan, Soprano DVORAK …………………………………. “Song to the Moon” from Rusalka

8. Jennifer Panara, Mezzo-soprano BELLINI ………. “Se Romeo t’uccise un figlio” from I Capuletti ed I Montecchi 9. Kidon Choi, Baritone VERDI…………………………….. “Cortigiani, vil razza dannata” from Rigoletto 10. Alexandra Nowakowski, SopranoDELIBES………………………….. “Bell Song” from Lakme

INTERMISSION Refreshments and beverages will be served while the Judges

choose the Winners of the Competition

Compliments of Provost Dr. Peter Woolley,Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ

The criteria used by the judges involves scoring based upon finalists voice quality,technique, intonation, diction, interpretation and stage presence.

The 2017 - 29th Opera at Florham Vocal Competition and Musicale(honoring Violetta DuPont), in collaboration with The Gerda Lissner Foundation

FINALISTS

Norman Garrett, baritone, a native of Lubbock, Texas, and currently a resident of Philadelphia, is a recent alumnus of the Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program at Washington National Opera. Having reached international critical acclaim, highlights of Mr. Garrett’s 2015-2016 seasons included the title role in Delius’ Koanga for his European debut at Wexford Festival in Ireland, Mandarino in Turandot with Cincinnati Opera, and a Company debut at Arizona Opera as

Ford in Falstaff. He also sang in concerts on behalf of Cincinnati Opera with the Philadelphia Orchestra and also with the Grand Rapids Symphony in his first Brahms Requiem. Upcoming, in the 2016-17 season contains work at the Columbus Opera, Glimmerglass Opera Festival, Austin Lyric Opera, and work with several American symphonies. He has also performed for Wolf Trap Opera, Santa Barbara, Kentucky Opera, Cedar Rapids Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago. Recently, a finalist in the internationally acclaimed 2017 Viñas Competition in Barcelona, Mr Garrett has consistently garnished prizes at over a dozen competitions such as The George London Foundation, The Sullivan Foundation, Gerda Lissner Foundation, Metropolitan Opera National Council, The Giulio Gari Foundation, Opera Index Competition and many more

Gabriella Sam, soprano, born in New York, is currently studying at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music under the guidance of Dr. Gwendolyn Detwiler. This year, Ms. Sam is excited to have been a Metropolitan Opera National Council District winner in South Carolina, as well as the recipient of an encouragement award at the Atlanta Regionals. Opera roles performed include: Ann Putnam in Robert Ward’s The Crucible, Mayme in Ricky

Ian Gordon’s Intimate Apparel, Fox in Janacek’s The Cunning Little Vixen, Mother in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, Puccini’s Suor Angelica, New Prioress in Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites, Musetta in Puccini’s La Bohème, Mrs. Ford in Nicolai’s Die Lustigen Weiber von Windsor, and Despina in Mozart’s Così fan tutte. This summer, Ms. Sam is excited to play the role of Lily, and cover the role of Bess in Gershwin’s Porgy and Bess at the Glimmerglass Festival.

Natalie Naudus, mezzo-soprano, continues to entice audiences with her “luscious” voice and “delightful” character portrayals (Metropolitan Arts Reviews/Shakespeareances.com). She appeared this Spring in an all Bach concert with acclaimed conductor Steven White. Recent engagements include Mistress Quickly in Falstaff, Mother in Amahl and the Night Visitors, Mercédès in Carmen, Beggar Woman in Sweeney Todd, Mere Marie in Dialogues des Carmélites, Alisa in Lucia di Lammermoor, La Badessa in Suor Angelica and Announcer in Gallantry.

Natalie made her European debut with Germany’s Mittelsächsisches Theater Freiberg as Jenny Hildebrand/Nursemaid in Kurt Weill’s Street Scene. While a Young Artist with Opera Theater Pittsburgh, she created the character of Rudy in the world premiere of the acclaimed comic opera series Night Cap.

Andrew Paulson, baritone, praised for his “strong voice” and “convincingly authoritative character,” is an emerging baritone from Great Falls, VA. Upcoming engagements feature him as Jim in Opera Maine’s production of An American Dream, Bello in La Fanciulla del west, Starveling in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Enrico in Lucia di Lammermoor with Virginia Opera. Recent past engagements featured Mr. Paulson as Paul

Jobs in the world premiere workshop of The (R)evolution of Steve Jobs, Happy in La fanciulla del west, and Diener #2 in Capriccio with Santa Fe Opera. Other highlights include Figaro in Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Prince Ottokar in Der Freischütz, and the Mandarin in Turandot with Virginia Opera. He has also performed Giorgio Germont (La Traviata) with Opera on the Avalon, Clayton McAllister and Luther in Floyd’s Cold Sassy Tree at Sugar Creek Opera, Papageno in Die Zauberflöte, and Roger Chillingworth in a world premiere workshop performance of The Scarlet Letter by Lori Laitman with Opera Colorado.

Mia Pafumi, soprano, native of Westfield, NJ, graduated from Montclair State in 2013 where she performed both Ms. Wordsworth in the 2011 production of Britten’s Albert Herring and Blanche in the 2013 production of Poulenc’s Dialogues of the Carmelites She was an Apprentice Artist for the Sarasota Opera’s 2014 Winter Season where she sang in the chorus of productions under Maestro Victor DeRenzi. In 2015 she began a Masters of Music at the University of Tennessee as a Graduate Teaching Assistant

in the Opera Theater program. Worked as a Studio Artist for the Knoxville Opera where she made her professional opera debut as the Dew Fairy in Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel. Recent roles, performances, and awards would include Imelda from Donizetti’s Parisina d’Este with the Opera Orchestra of New York under Maestro Eve Queler at Jazz at Lincoln Center 2016, The Foreign Woman in Menotti’s The Consul presented by the University of Tennessee Opera Theater 2015. Her recent awards include: 3rd place Winner of The Gerda Lissner 2015 Vocal Competition, Grant Winner of the 2016 Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation and 2nd place in the 2014 Opera at Florham Vocal Competitions. Upcoming performances include Carl Orff ’s Carmina Burana with the Montclair State University Chorale where she will be featured as the Soprano soloist.

Mackenzie Gotcher, tenor, a resident of Philadelphia’s Academy of Vocal Arts, garnered critical acclaim in his AVA debut as Edgardo di Ravenswood in Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) for his “…burnished sound and sense of legato line… His use of the Italian language makes music that might seem mindlessly tuneful speak to elemental aspects of the human existence…” (David Patrick Stearns, The Philadelphia Inquirer). Gotcher debuts as Mario Cavaradossi in Puccini’s Tosca at

Wolf Trap Opera in the 2017 season. Mr Gotcher is the 2017 top prize winner of the biennial Young Patronesses of the Opera and Florida Grand Opera voice competition as well as a 2016 grant recipient from the Career Bridges Foundation. Mr. Gotcher recently covered the role of Mario Cavaradossi in Tosca at Opera North. Additional recent appearances include Macduff in Verdi’s Macbeth with Opera Company of Middlebury, Rodolfo (cover) in Puccini’s La bohème and Diego Delarosa in Randall

Shinn and Tony Award winner Mark Medoff ’s new opera Rose in Flames at Utah Festival Opera, as well as Paul Bäumer in the Viennese premier of Nancy Van de Vate’s tragic telling of All Quiet on the Western Front. Mr. Gotcher was a resident artist at Sarasota Florida Opera in 2013, 2014, and 2015.

Anush Avetisyan, soprano, is in her first year at Yale University receiving her Master’s Degree. There she has sung the role of Fiordiligi in Così fan tutte, Tatyana and Thaïs in excerpts from Eugene Onegin and Thaïs. A graduate of the Academy of Vocal Arts, Philadelphia, PA, Ms. Avetisyan has sung the role of Despina in Così

fan tutte, Elvira in L’Italiana in Algieri, Poussette in Manon and Donna Elvira in Don Giovanni. She’s sung with Oberlin in Italy as Contessa in Le Nozze di Figaro and Magda in La Rondine. She received her BA at UCLA where she sang Eurydice in Orpheus in the Underworld, Poppea in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea, Amelia in excerpts from Simon Boccanegra and Leonora in an excerpt from La forza del destino. Most recently a winner of the Inaugural Deborah Voigt opera, she has also won 2nd prize in the Mario Lanza Competition, 1st prize in the Palm Springs Opera competition, 1st prize in the Mondavi Center Young Artists Competition, and 4th prize in the Loren L. Zachary Society Competition. Ms. Avetisyan is honored to be joining Opera Theater St. Louis for a second year covering Rosasharn in Ricky Ian Gordons Grapes of Wrath, covering Cio-Cio San in Madame Butterfly and singing Kate Pinkerton.

Jennifer Panara, mezzo soprano, current season included Cherubino (Le nozze di Figaro) with North Carolina Opera and Mae (Ricky Ian Gordon’s The Grapes of Wrath) with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis. The 2015-2016 Season brought several notable company and role debuts, including Third Dryad (Rusalka) with Minnesota Opera,

Siébel (Faust) with Annapolis Opera, and a series of concerts of Handel’s The Messiah with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra. Additionally, Jennifer was selected as a Quarterfinalist for the live round of Plácido Domingo’s Operalia: The World Opera Competition, held in Guadalajara, Mexico. Other recent engagements include Stéphano (Roméo et Juliette), Isolier (Le comte Ory), Rinaldo (Rinaldo), and Hänsel (Hänsel und Gretel). Jennifer has participated in young artist programs with The Santa Fe Opera and Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, among others. Recent awards include the Donald and Luke Graham Memorial Award from The Santa Fe Opera and Second Prize at the Brava! Opera Theatre Vocal Competition held in San Francisco, CA. A native of Medford, NJ, Jennifer holds degrees from the Eastman School of Music, San Francisco Conservatory of Music, and the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.

Kidon Choi, baritone, a native of Korea, is a second-year PDPL student at Mannes School of Music. He completed his M.M. in voice performance at Manhattan School of Music in New York, and his B.M. in vocal performance at Hanyang University in Seoul. Mr. Choi has performed in Lincoln Center, the Carnegie hall, Chautauqua Music Festival, the Opera

House of Seoul arts center, Sejong Arts center, Mannes school of Music, Manhattan

School of Music among many others. Mr. Choi’s repertoire includes such roles as title role in Rigoletto, Renato in Un ballo in Maschera, Marcello in La Bohème, Germont in La Traviata, Amonasro in Aida, Dulcamara in L’elisir d’amor, Don Alfonso in Così fan tutte, Peter in Hänsel und Gretel, Rodomonte in Orlando Paladino. In 2016 Kidon Choi received Major Award from Opera Index vocal competition, 2nd Prize Gerda Lissner Foundation, Grant winners of The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation, plus 1st Prize of SAI Compeition 2015, Riconoscimento di Finalista of 52°Concorso Internazionale Voci Verdiane 2014. Kidon released his own CD ‘Soar’ with Sony Music Entertainment 2013.

Alexandra Nowakowski, soprano, a tive of Poland, is currently a third year resident artist at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia where she studies with Bill Schuman. In the current AVA season, Ms. Nowakowski debuted Lucia (Lucia di Lammermoor) and covered Gilda (Rigoletto). She is scheduled to sing Pamina (Die Zauberflöte). Ms. Nowakowski will also be

the soprano soloist in Carmina Burana with the Philadelphia Youth Orchestra in June, and sings Soprano I in the Bach B Minor Mass with the Bach Society Houston shortly after. In the 2015/16 season at AVA she was seen as Sophie (Werther) and Zerlina (Don Giovanni), and covered the role of Susanna (Le nozze di Figaro) with Wolf Trap Opera. Ms. Nowakowski is a 1st Prize winner from the Gerda Lissner Foundation Vocal Competition, 1st Place winner in the American Council for Polish Culture’s Marcella Sembrich Vocal Competition, and a district winner in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.

ADJUDICATORS AT PRELIMINARY AND FINAL COMPETITION

Stephen De Maio Born in Newark NJ. His father was an avid musician and he saw to it that his son received extensive instructions in piano and choral music. He also studied music and drama at New York University, Fordham, Kean College and Seton Hall University in New Jersey. Was Director of American English Program and Opera Master Classes for Marymount Manhattan College. Founder of The Mayo Theater and Music Workshop in New York presenting shows and

concerts at Off Broadway Theaters. Elected President of the Gerda Lissner Foundation and it was cited by Opera News as one of the most prestigious Foundations fostering the careers of young artists with very generous financial awards . He serves as Administrative and Artistic Director of the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, Artistic Adviser of The Giulio Gari Foundation, Loren L. Zachary Society for The Performing Arts, Opera At Florham NJ, Assistant to Director Musician Emergency Fund and is on the Advisory Boards of the Martina Arroyo Foundation, Opera Index, American Center For Musical Arts.Through his association with the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, he has brought back to opera loving audiences favored retired artists including Virgina Zeani, Leyla Gencer, Inge Borkh, Jon Vickers, Giorgio Tozzi, Evelyn Lear, Teresa Stratas, Brenda Lewis, Thomas Stewart, Franco Corelli, Carlo Bergonzi, Alfredo Kraus, James King, Fedora Barbieri, Marta Eggerth and countless other great artists. He continues to serve on numerous juries for world renowned international vocal competitions and has received a number of awards which include:The New York Crystal Apple for outstanding service to the New York Community and the world of music presented by Our Town newspaper. Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Licia Albanese Puccini Foundation, The Loren L. Zachary Society for The Performing Arts, The Martina Arroyo Foundation and Opera Index.

BARBARA ANN TESTA, a famous soprano, had a wonderful opera career in Italy. She studied with the great tenor Giovanni Martinelli and the brilliant Lica Albanese. Barbara is also an accomplished pianist. A trustee of the Gerda Lissner Foundation, The Licia Albanese Foundation, and the Opera at Florham, she is often called upon to judge international vocal competitions.

MAESTRO EVE QUELER As current Music Director of Opera Orchestra of New York, Eve Queler has conducted over 90 operas in concert at Carnegie Hall and other major symphony and opera houses in Europe and South America. Queler has championed many neglected Russian and Czech operas that are staples in Central Europe but virtually unknown in America. She received one of the highest awards presented by the French government when she was named a Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres by the French

Minister of Culture for her commitment to French operas. Maestro Queler also received the prestigious Touchstone Award from Women In Music, Inc., in recognition of her visionary spirit as one of the “Women Who Make a Difference.” In 2010, she was the recipient of the National Endowment for the Arts, Opera Honors Award. In addition to her extensive accomplishments as a conductor of standard and rare works in both opera and symphonic repertory, Queler has given critical early exposure to many young singers who have gone on to become the foremost artists of our time: José Carreras, Renée Fleming, James Morris, and Deborah Voigt, to name a few. She has conducted numerous symphony orchestras including the Philadelphia Orchestra, Cleveland Orchestra, Rome Opera, Montreal Symphony, and San Antonio Symphony. A native New Yorker, Ms. Queler graduated from the Mannes College of Music. Early in her career, she served as rehearsal accompanist and coach with the Metropolitan Opera Studio and for five years was assistant conductor to Julius Rudel at the New York City Opera.

SCOTT BARNES Scott graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music in musical theater. He went on to perform on and off Broadway and around the country, sang on six of the Disney animated films (including Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Pocahontas), star in scores of television commercials between 1977 and 1990, twice win the MAC award for NYC cabaret director of the year and create acts for Bette Midler, Kathie Lee Gifford, Rita Moreno and many other wonderful singers. He has produced and/or artistic-directed twenty-six CDs, and for four glorious years directed, managed, and publicized the late,

legendary cabaret singer Nancy LaMott. During the last twelve years, Scott has written dozens of feature articles for Opera News. After years in “showbiz”, (and years teaching master classes in song interpretation and audition strategies for Broadway-bound performers), Scott has found his unique ability to help opera singers strategize for auditions, and to broaden their actors’ imaginations to better inhabit songs, arias, and roles. He team-taught with singing actress supreme Lauren Flanigan. In the summer of 2015, he was a faculty member for Aprile Millo’s OperaVision Academy in Italy. For the past several seasons, Scott has judged several of opera’s top singing competitions, including the Gerda Lissner, Licia Albanese/Puccini Foundation, Giulio Gari, Veronica Dunne (NYC and Wexford preliminaries), AVA’s Giargiari, the Loren L. Zachary Society, and now Opera at Florham.

Thurmond Smithgall, an outstanding international jurist, patron of the arts, and artists’ representative guiding the careers of many young singers. In 2009 he created the Lanie and Ethel Foundation, a private Foundation that focuses, amongst other things, environmental concerns, needy musicians and promoting artistic careers.

AccompanistMary Pinto, is an acclaimed accompanist and vocal coach who have worked with international opera singers and major American opera companies for the past 25 years. During the past year, Mary has had the pleasure of coaching for Metropolitan Opera star and international soprano, Deborah Voigt. As Ms. Voigt prepared the three Brünnhilde’s for the Met’s new production of the Ring Cycle during the 2011 and 2012 season, Mary served as lesson and rehearsal pianist and private coach. Ms. Pinto can be seen in the documentary, Wagner’s Dream: The Making

of the Met’s Ring which premiered at the 2012 Tribeca Film Festival. The film has since been broadcast globally as part of the HD Broadcasts and will be shown this season on American PBS channels as part of the “Great Performances” series. Mary is a student of John Wustman, the renowned accompanist for Luciano Pavarotti. She began her professional career as a rehearsal pianist for Dayton Opera, Omaha Opera and Augusta Opera. While at Omaha Opera, Mary privately coached many singers, including a young Susan Graham. She went on to coach for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Opera Center preparing performances of Don Giovanni, Così fan tutte, and the world premieres of Bright Sheng’s The Song of Majnun and Bruce Saylor’s Orpheus Descending. More recently, Ms. Pinto worked as a rehearsal pianist and coach at Florentine Opera of Milwaukee, where she prepared singers for Tosca, Otello and André Chénier. From 1995 to 1999, Mary was a staff rehearsal pianist for Dallas Opera, working on Carmen with Denyce Graves as well as preparing performances of Billy Budd, Kát’a Kabanová, and Aida. Following Dallas, Mary worked at Opera San Antonio, where in addition to coaching and rehearsal pianist duties, she served as the audition pianist for Metropolitan Opera National Council Regional Auditions, an honor she repeated in Chicago several years later. Since returning to her home state of New Jersey, Mary joined the faculty at Montclair State University, where she coaches for the opera departments, as well as giving private lessons. She served as rehearsal pianist and harpsichordist for 2013’s New Jersey State Opera’s production of II Barbiere di Siviglia under Jason Tramm. 2015 saw Mary coaching the winners of Gerda Lissner and Giulio Gari’s Grant awards, serving as Vice President of Opera at Florham’s Board of Trustees plus planning and accompanying their Musical events. Mary maintains a busy private coaching studio in New York City.

IN MEMORIAMThe second prize of the Opera at Florham Vocal Competition of $3,000 is in memory of Liz McColgan donated by her parents, Edward and Betty McColgan . Liz McColgan was a lover of the fine arts and a gifted fundraiser for the NY Philharmonic, LA Philharmonic, and the Wallis Center for the Performing Arts. Liz died peacefully surrounded by her entire family on June 11, 2016 from a rare form of kidney cancer. She battled her illness courageously with the same

tenacity and grace she approached everything in her life. As a special remembrance, a concert about Leonard Bernstein was held in Liz’s honor in Los Angeles. And this scholarship is dedicated in her memory.

Gerda Lissner Foundation

Proudly Supports

Opera at Florham

In Residence At

Fairleigh Dickinson University

Madison, New JerseyThe Gerda Lissner Foundation was created by Mrs. Lissner, a Metropolitan Opera subscriber for 77 years, to provide young opera singers with the financial support they need to pursue their craft and excel in the world of Opera. We believe that the encouragement and assistance to young artists toward achieving their goals are imperative for the continuation of this demanding art form. Foundation gives away prizes at their annual Competition plus supporting other Opera groups like Opera at Florham.

35th Anniversary Season

Musicale SeriesSunday at 2pm

A Harvest of Music & SongSeptember 17, 2017

Special Holiday CelebrationDecember 3, 2017

A Springtime SerenadeMay 20, 2018

Reg. $30Seniors $25

Groups of 10+ / $20Children are Always Free

From OperaTo American

Songbook

Special EventsSunday October 15, 2017

35th Anniversary GalaConcert & Reception

A special fundraiser featuringour favorite competition

winners. Details coming soon

30th Opera at FlorhamVocal Competition Honoring

Violetta Dupont • April 22, 2018