High Notes: The Annual Report of the Academy of Vocal Arts | 2023/2024 Season

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HIGH NOTES

THE ANNUAL REPORT OF THE ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS 2023/2024 SEASON

Ariana Maubach, Luke Norvell, Veronica Richer, Dylan Gregg, Loella Grahn, Geoffrey Schmelzer, Matthew Goodheart, Benjamin Dickerson, Shawn Roth, and Nan Wang in Il barbiere di Siviglia
Photo credit: Morgan Horell

ACADEMY OF VOCAL ARTS

The mission of the Academy of Vocal Arts is to be the world’s premier institution for training young artists as international opera soloists. With its rigorous instruction and coaching, as well as performance opportunities in concerts, recitals, and fully staged operas, the Academy trains the most promising young singers from around the world, while also contributing to the performing arts community in the greater Philadelphia region.

Founded in 1934, the Academy of Vocal Arts is the only tuition-free institution dedicated exclusively to the study of voice. When Resident Artists graduate from AVA, they are prepared to share their gifts with audiences around the world, fulfilling not only their own hopes and dreams, but those of AVA’s wise and generous founder, Helen Corning Warden.

Gifted singers come to Philadelphia from all over the world to seek the exceptional guidance and training that the Academy of Vocal Arts offers. Admission to the tuition-free program is determined yearly by competitive auditions. While hundreds of hopeful singers apply, only 8-10 are accepted into the four-year program.

AVA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Harold F. (Rick) Pitcairn II

Chairman of the Board

Susan E. Kane

Vice Chair & Treasurer

Neal W. Krouse

Vice Chair & Secretary

B.A. (Mackie) MacLean, Jr.

Chairman Emeritus

Dr. Diane Cole Ahl

R. Randolph Apgar

Christine Batchelor

Barbara Donnelly Bentivoglio

Judith Broudy

Dr. Dante Cerza

Alice Chase

Kristin Davidson

Dr. Julie Fairman

Lily Ferry

Scott Hickman

I. Gail Howard

Dr. Richard Kent

Mark Kerschner

Rochelle Magarick

Dr. Douglas J. Manion

Joseph W. McGuire, Esq.

Marlene F. Milner

Latonia Moore (AVA ’04)

Suzanne Root, Esq.

Dr. Ruth Ryave

Corey Smith

Walter M. Strine Jr., Esq.

Richard Troxell (AVA ’92)

Dr. Maria G. Vogiatzi Plestis

P. Jeffrey Warden

Gordon M. Wase, Esq.

Charlotte H. Watts

AVA EMERITUS BOARD MEMBERS

Dr. Romeo Abella

Kenneth E. Ahl, Esq*

Kay Bossone

Dr. Elizabeth M. Bowden*

Peter G. Gould

Martha R. Hurt

Anthony P. Jannetta*

Francis J. Palamara

Franca C. Warden*

STAFF/FACULTY

Scott Guzielek

President and Artistic Director

Christofer Macatsoris

Jeannine B. Cowles

Music Director Chair

ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Josh Miller

Dean of Students/Artistic Administrator

José Meléndez

Assistant to the Music Director/Librarian

Rebecca Carr

Coordinator for Opera Outreach

Laura Avellino

Administrative Associate

FINANCE

Constantina (Dina) Christou, CPA

Chief Financial Officer

Eileen Cella

Director of Finance and Business

Operations

Amalia Wilson

Bookkeeper

DEVELOPMENT

Jason B. Ward

Director of Institutional Advancement

Emily Bernard

Development Manager

Judith Lovat

Special Events Manager

Stephen J. Edwards-Trygar

Development and Alumni Relations

Coordinator

MARKETING

Bill Buddendorf

Director of Patron Engagement

Andrew Rohe

Marketing and Public Relations Manager

PRODUCTION

AJ Klein

Production and Facilities Manager

FACULTY

Luis Ledesma (AVA ’98), Voice Instructor

Florence Quivar, Voice Instructor

Bill Schuman, Voice Instructor

Benita Valente, Voice Instructor

Sally Wolf, Voice Instructor

Luke Housner, Master Vocal Coach

David Antony Lofton, Master Vocal Coach and Assistant Conductor

Danielle Orlando, Master Vocal Coach

Richard A. Raub, Master Vocal Coach and Assistant Conductor

Michael Lewis, Vocal Coach

Audrey Saint-Gil, Vocal Coach

Elise Auerbach, Pianist

José Meléndez, Pianist

Gabriel Rebolla, Pianist

Ting Ting Wong, Pianist

CLASS INSTRUCTORS

Nicole Layseca, French Instructor

Amanda Johnston, German Instructor

Ennio Brugnolo, Italian Instructor

Dr. Josh Miller, Professional Development

Charles Conwell, Stage Combat

Beth Clayton, CMHC, MM, Mental Wellness Coach

Lisa Lovelace, Stage Movement and Dance

Mei Lu, ESL Instructor

Robert Rowland (AVA ’85), History of Opera

Dr. Julia Zavadsky, Russian Diction Coach

Paul Curran, Acting Instructor

Robert Kahn, Assistant Conductor

Robert Thayer Sataloff, M.D., D.M.A., Head of Vocal Science Department

Dear Friends,

It is my pleasure to present High Notes: The Annual Report of the Academy of Vocal Arts . This report looks back at our fiscal year from July 1, 2023, to June 30, 2024. I am proud to report that AVA presented a full season of performances, beginning with Anna Bolena at AVA and The Haverford School under the baton of Steven White and directed by Christopher Mattaliano—both made their AVA debuts. Our season continued with a provocative performance of Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia, directed by Tara Faircloth, who also made her AVA debut this season. We also presented various recitals and concerts, our annual Jubilate! program, and the ever-popular Giargiari Bel Canto Competition. The final opera of our season, conducted by our own Richard A. Raub and directed by Jeffrey Buchman, was Rossini’s hilarious Il barbiere di Siviglia.

We finished the season with our annual Farewell Recital, featuring our newest graduates, Benjamin Dickerson, Monique Galvão, Kevin Godínez, Loella Grahn, Emily Margevich, Shawn Roth, and Ethel Trujillo. It is always bittersweet to say goodbye, but we look forward to watching their careers bloom in the coming years and wish them much success.

I am honored and deeply grateful to lead this exceptional organization and carry out our important mission of providing the very best tuition-free training to the next generation of great opera singers. I look forward to seeing you all many times this season!

Warmly,

THE 2023/2024 Season

The Opera Theatre season began with a black-tie Opening Night Celebration, which featured a performance of Gaetano Donizetti’s Anna Bolena, conducted by Maestro Steven White and directed by Christopher Mattaliano. Opening Night guests enjoyed cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, dinner by Catering by Design, and a post-performance champagne toast to celebrate the singers. The beautiful evening was chaired by Judith Broudy. Performances of Anna Bolena continued at AVA for a few weeks before additional performances at Centennial Hall at The Haverford School also generously sponsored by Judith Broudy. Members of AVA’s Young Professionals program enjoyed a night that included a performance of the opera with a postperformance champagne reception with the Resident Artists, an evening sponsored by Charlotte H. Watts.

Our winter production of Benjamin Britten’s The Rape of Lucretia featured four performances in AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater that sent our audiences back to the ancient city of Troy. The production was directed by Tara Faircloth and was conducted by AVA’s Assistant Conductor Robert Kahn with the AVA Opera Orchestra.

From Anna Bolena:

Left to right: Nan Wang as Lord Rochefort, Angel Raii Gomez as Riccardo Percy, Lydia Grindatto as Anna Bolena, Shawn Roth as Hervey, and Dylan Gregg as Enrico

Photo credit: Drew Johnson

The Opera Season came to a close with a production of Gioachino Rossini’s Il barbiere di Siviglia . Performances took place at AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater, Centennial Hall at The Haverford School, Central Bucks South High School, and at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center, generously sponsored by Victoria Eckert Zoellner. Maestro Richard A. Raub lead the AVA Opera Orchestra with Jeffrey Buchman stage direction and Rosa Mercedes’ choreography. This production of Il barbiere di Siviglia was generously sponsored by Victoria Eckert Zoellner. Like our production of Anna Bolena, Young Professionals were invited back for their own performance with a postperformance champagne reception with the Resident Artists, similarly sponsored by Charlotte H. Watts.

From The Rape of Lucretia:

Left: Alla Yarosh as Lucretia, Ariana Maubach as Bianca, and Loella Grahn as Lucia

Above: Luke Norvell as the Male Chorus and Kevin Godínez as Tarquinius

Photo credit: Morgan Horell

From Il barbiere di Siviglia:

Left to right: Dylan Gregg as Don Basilio, Kevin Godínez as Figaro, Veronica Richer as Berta, Yue Wu as Dr. Bartolo, Ariana Maubach as Ambrogio, Angel Raii Gomez as Count Almaviva, and Ethel Trujillo as Rosina

Photo credit: Morgan Horell

The annual Giargiari Bel Canto Competition took place at the Perelman Theater on the Kimmel Cultural Campus. The 2023 First Prize and Audience Choice Award winner was tenor Angel Raii Gomez, who impressed the judges with his renditions of “A te, o cara” from Vincenzo Bellini’s I puritani and “Asile héréditaire” from Gioachino Rossini’s Guillaume Tell . Tenor Luke Norvell won Second Prize with “Anch’io vorrei dormir cosi” from Francesco Cilea’s L’arlesiana and “Ah! leve-toi soleil” from Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette . Soprano Ethel Trujillo received the Third Prize with performances of “Prendi, per me sei libero from Gaetano Donizetti’s L’elisir d’amore and “Amour, ranime mon courage” from Charles Gounod’s Roméo et Juliette . Master Vocal Coach and Music Director Danielle Orlando accompanied all participating Resident Artists.

AVA’s recital series began in the fall with a New Artists Recital. The six new Resident Artists, Joshua Berg (tenor), Manli Deng (soprano), Ariana Maubach (mezzo-soprano), Veronica Richer (soprano), Geoffrey Schmelzer (baritone), and Nan Wang (bassbaritone) performed in AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater, accompanied by Music Director and Vocal Coach José Meléndez.

The Winter Recital featured several of our Resident Artists performing Franz Schubert’s Winterreise . Accompanied by Master Vocal Coach and Music Director Luke Housner, our Resident Artists performed this beautiful song cycle in AVA’s Helen Corning Warden Theater.

Performances of Jubilate! A Concert of Sacred Music took place at The Church of the Redeemer in Bryn Mawr and The Church of the Holy Trinity in Rittenhouse Square. The annual concert of sacred vocal music featured time-honored favorites from different cultures, faiths, and musical eras, with AVA’s Resident Artists performing selections by Mozart, Handel, Dubois, Bellini, Rossini, Dvorák, Bizet, Puccini, Verdi, Wagner, Clydesdale, and John Daniel Carter, with Master Vocal Coach David Antony Lofton leading the AVA Opera Orchestra. Jubilate! was generously sponsored by the David A. and Helen P. Horn Charitable Trust.

Viva la Voce! Garden Fête , AVA’s annual gala, was held at Appleford Estate . and honored the retirement and tenure of AVA’s former President. This event celebrated AVA’s 89 successful years of opera training, and its proceeds helped

support our renowned tuition-free program. Led by event chair Carole Haas Gravagno, the evening included an elegant dinner by Catering by Design, with arias and ensembles performed by talented alumni who made an impact on Kevin McDowell during his 37-year tenure. The popular live auction was led by guest auctioneer Richard Troxell (’92).

The season wrapped up with our annual Farewell Recital held at The Church of the Holy Trinity in Rittenhouse Square with performances by our graduates Benjamin Dickerson (baritone), Monique Galvão (mezzo-soprano), Kevin Godínez (baritone), Loella Grahn (soprano), Emily Margevich (soprano), Shawn Roth (tenor), and Ethel Trujillo (soprano).

From Jubilate!: Left to right: Joshua Berg, Jenny Anne Flory, and Manli Deng with the AVA Opera Orchestra, conducted by David Antony Lofton
Photo credit: Wave Lane
From Winter Recital: Benjamin Dickerson accompanied by Luke Housner
Photo credit: Morgan Horell

CLASS OF 2024

AVA bid a fond farewell to seven Resident Artists this year. Our graduates sang at the annual Graduation Recital, which took place at The Church of the Holy Trinity in Rittenhouse Square. We will miss these talented singers, and we look forward to following their promising careers around the world.

BENJAMIN DICKERSON, BARITONE

Memorable AVA roles: Eugene Onegin, Eugene Onegin; Schaunard, La bohème; Giorgio Germont, La traviata; Don Giovanni, Don Giovanni; Tarquinius, The Rape of Lucretia; Figaro, Il barbiere di Siviglia

MONIQUE GALVÃO, MEZZO-SOPRANO

Memorable AVA roles: Larina, Eugene Onegin; Lora Bervoix, La traviata; Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni; Giovanna Seymour, Anna Bolena; Bianca, The Rape of Lucretia

KEVIN GODÍNEZ, BARITONE

Memorable AVA roles: Marcello, La bohème; Giorgio Germont, La traviata; Dr. Malatesta, Don Pasquale; Tarquinius, The Rape of Lucretia; Figaro, Il barbiere di Siviglia

LOELLA GRAHN, SOPRANO

Memorable AVA roles: Musetta, La bohème; Norina, Don Pasquale; Lucia, The Rape of Lucretia; Rosina, Il barbiere di Siviglia

EMILY MARGEVICH, SOPRANO

Memorable AVA roles: Tatiana, Eugene Onegin; Musetta, La bohème; Violetta Valéry, La traviata; Donna Elvira, Don Giovanni; Female Chorus, The Rape of Lucretia

SHAWN ROTH, TENOR

Memorable AVA roles: Parpignol, La bohème; Flora’s Servant, La traviata; Carlino, Don Pasquale; Don Ottavio, Don Giovanni; Male Chorus, The Rape of Lucretia; Officer, Il barbiere di Siviglia

ETHEL TRUJILLO, SOPRANO

Memorable AVA roles: Norina, Don Pasquale; Lucia, The Rape of Lucretia; Rosina, Il barbiere di Siviglia

Collage Photo Credit: Elvis Herrera, Don Valentino and Morgan Horell

YOUNG PROFESSIONALS

AVA Young Professionals is a community of young opera enthusiasts under the age of 45 based in the Greater Philadelphia area who celebrate a mutual love of music through networking and social gatherings, exclusive receptions, and cultural events. AVA Young Professionals receive invitations to all Young Professional events, including exclusive cocktail parties, previews, receptions, opportunities to meet and mingle with AVA’s Resident Artists, and get email updates and reminders about opera productions and additional events. Supporting AVA’s Young Professionals shows our ongoing effort to introduce new, younger audiences to opera and to make this art form more accessible.

Special events for Young Professionals this year included performances of Anna Bolena and Il barbiere di Siviglia, which offered discounted prices and an afterperformance champagne reception with the Resident Artists.

OPERA OUTREACH

In 2023/2024, Opera Outreach reached 1,230 students from 20 public, private, and charter schools, along with 5 home school groups from across the Greater Philadelphia region. Participants range from loyal, long-time attendees of a decade or more, with nearly half being new to our program since the pandemic, averaging 72% minority enrollment.

Student-length matinee performances of Anna Bolena and Il barbiere di Siviglia were presented at The Haverford School’s Centennial Hall. A Study Guide for each opera offered an opportunity for teachers and students to prepare for what they would see and hear. Question & Answer Sessions followed the performances where Resident Artists answered students’ questions about how they began singing, how to learn and memorize a role, what it’s like to singing in foreign languages, and the daily life of an opera singer, among many others.

WHAT TEACHERS ARE SAYING:

“The program provides our students an opportunity to open a door to the world of the arts! One that they wouldn’t have known or imagined otherwise. Thanks to this exposure students gain a sense of belonging to the arts, they form a memory that now will act as their access pass to more cultural and artistic experiences and will lead to more things to come...I’m always amazed by how quickly they are taken by the opera, it’s truly heartwarming to see them so captured, on the edge of their seats, and at the end all on their feet clapping with true intent at your fantastic performers. All thanks to this experience and the people behind it that make it possible. BRAVI!!!”

“I now have HS seniors who first went to the opera as freshmen (thanks to AVA) and have come to love the genre. They are now able to have intelligent conversations about the operas and compare/contrast among the performances they’ve seen.”

“Many students would never get to attend an actual production if it weren’t for this outreach. They wouldn’t get the exposure to the wide variety of musical styles and cultures that opera showcases.”

“The AVA productions are a perfect introduction to opera. The abridged versions are *just long enough* to give them a taste of the genre without them losing interest.”

“THANK YOU so much for the wonderful event, my students and I had a great time! The Q&A session was a highlight for us because it gave us deeper context for the performers and made everything more personal. We are grateful for all of the work you put into opera outreach!”

Above: Members of the cast of Il barbiere di Siviglia answering questions during the Q&A portion of our semiannual Opera Outreach at the Haverford School.

Left: Students at Opera Outreach

Photo credit: Rebecca Carr

Above: Young Professionals striking a pose at the Young Professionals performance of Anna Bolena.
Photo credit: Morgan Horell

Please join us in welcoming our new AVA Board and Staff Members!

NEW AVA BOARD MEMBERS

DIANE COLE AHL, PH.D., is the Arthur J. ‘55 and Barbara S. Rothkopf Professor emerita of Art History at Lafayette College, where she taught for 42 years. Her most recent book, Painting in Fifteenth-Century Italy: This Splendid and Noble Art, was published by Yale University Press in 2023. Diane was introduced to opera as a teenager and deepened her passion for this unique art form while living abroad. She and her late husband, Kenneth E. Ahl, vice chair and secretary emeritus of the AVA board of directors, established the Italian Study Fund to support Resident Artists at summer programs for opera and language in Italy.

JULIE A. FAIRMAN, PHD, RN, FAAN, is an historian of nursing and the Professor of Nursing Emerita at the University of Pennsylvania School of Nursing. Her research focuses on 20th century healthcare issues, in particular, the history of health policy as it relates to scope of practice and service models, and the history of technology. Her recent work examines the intersection of civil rights and health care. Her work has been funded by the NLM, NEH, the RWJ Foundation Investigator in Health Policy Program. In 2011 she was the first historian inducted into the Sigma Theta Tau Research Hall of Fame. In 2024 she was designated a Living legend by the American Academy of Nursing.

A resident of Rittenhouse Square for over 18 years, SCOTT HICKMAN has an in-depth knowledge and appreciation of the quality of Center City living in Philadelphia. As a residential interior designer for more than two decades, most of them as a principal of his own design firm, Scott has honed his expertise in helping people find and create their place in the world and making each client’s home exceptionally beautiful and comfortable. In real estate, Scott marries all this experience with a warm and engaging personality and offers consistent dedication and diligence in handling the challenges of buying and selling for each of his clients.

Scott has a degree in environmental design from the University of California at Davis and, with his partner, travels extensively in Europe and elsewhere in the world to enhance his knowledge of different quality lifestyles. He brings this knowledge to all he does — including his efforts in making the best of each home being bought or sold for his clients in the world of Philadelphia real estate.

ROCHELLE MAGARICK has served as the Managing Partner of a real estate investment company focusing on historic multi-family properties in Center City Philadelphia with a focus on historic preservation for 30 years. With a BA in Art History, an MS in Mental Health and an MBA she has had “many lives” professionally in Community Mental Health and Consulting before settling professionally in a space that she has always wanted to work, and which combines many elements of her educational background. She has served as a Board Member of an SBA Business Finance Non-Profit, a Board Member/Treasurer of her Condo Association, and as a member of the Easement Committee of the Preservation Alliance of Greater Philadelphia. She is a member of the Union League and the Acorn Club.

NEW AVA STAFF AND FACULTY

DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND BUSINESS OPERATIONS

EILEEN CELLA comes to AVA with a strong background in both the non-profit sector and the arts. After graduating from the University of Pennsylvania, Eileen spent years as a musical theatre performer as a member of the Actors Equity Association. While performing, Eileen also served as the Managing Director of Act II Playhouse, a professional theater in the Philadelphia suburbs, where she fell in love with the finance and administration side of the arts world. She further honed her non-profit financial skills by serving as the Director of Finance for the Bicycle Coalition of Greater Philadelphia, a non-profit which specializes in cycling safety and advocacy. Eileen is thrilled to return to the arts and to continue utilizing her financial skills by joining the AVA team.

DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

EMILY BERNARD holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of the Arts and certifications in Fundraising and Nonprofit Business Management from La Salle University. After teaching, performing, and choreographing, she began her career in arts administration with BalletX, where she managed box office relations and oversaw the annual fund. While dance remains a passion close to her heart, Emily is eager to explore the opera world. Outside of her work at AVA, Emily enjoys reading, exploring Philly coffee shops, and spending time with loved ones.

IN MEMORIAM

BOOKKEEPER

AMALIA WILSON is an experienced business administrator with a BA in Art History, who has worked in museums and art spaces as well as in the hospitality industry. She is particularly interested in accounting, finance and historic buildings.

MARKETING AND PUBLIC RELATIONS MANAGER

ANDREW ROHE has been entrenched in Philadelphia’s cultural community for over a decade and has trained vocal artists from across the region as a performance coach. Andrew is passionate about helping artists succeed and seeing that they are well-equipped in their careers, especially in their marketing and self-promotion. In his free time, Andrew likes to read and listen to his extensive collection of vinyl records.

PRODUCTION AND FACILITIES MANAGER

AJ KLEIN secretly moonlights performances outside of working hours. This past year he had the pleasure to play Perchik (Fiddler on the Roof), Clyde (Bonnie & Clyde), and Tony (West Side Story) at local theatre companies in Jersey. He was also blessed with an opportunity to direct Working the Musical at the Ritz Theatre where, prior to his role at AVA, he served as their Technical Director building the sets for their shows.

Together we remember those who greatly supported AVA, its Resident Artists, and the future of opera.

SHERRIN BAKY-NESSLER

CAROL N. BOSLET

DR. TOBY EISENSTEIN

MARJORIE GARWIG

DONALD TRUMPLER

SUPPORTING AVA

ANNUAL GIVING THROUGH THE FRIENDS OF AVA

The Friends of AVA is a dedicated group of supporters who, by investing in AVA’s mission through annual gifts, nurture and launch the world’s most promising vocal artists. Friends of AVA members have the rare opportunity of getting to know the Resident Artists and artistic team personally through intimate and exclusive parties, concerts, and opera trips.

AVA’S 2023-2024 ANNUAL FUND

The Annual Fund provides AVA with the working capital to support the daily functions of the institution and helps us meet the expenses of our operating budget. A gift to AVA through the Annual Fund makes an immediate and powerful impact.

FELLOWSHIPS

AVA is the only tuition-free school in the world devoted exclusively to operatic training. While the program has always been tuition-free, AVA now also offers fellowships to assist Resident Artists with the costs of living in Philadelphia during their training at AVA. Resident Artist fellowships can be endowed or funded on an annual basis.

COMPREHENSIVE SCHOLARSHIPS

Scholarships provide both a monthly fellowship to assist with living expenses and tuition support for one Resident Artist annually. They may be endowed in perpetuity with a contribution of $350,000 or more.

Support from donors like you is critical to the continued success of the Academy of Vocal Arts’ mission. A gift to the Academy is a wonderful way to invest in the future of the operatic art form and the gifted singers who are its future. Your contribution also helps to underwrite the costs of producing AVA’s highly acclaimed operas and concerts.

There are several ways that you can make an impact by supporting the AVA Resident Artists and the future of opera.

PLANNED GIVING THROUGH THE HELEN CORNING WARDEN SOCIETY

The Helen Corning Warden Society recognizes the patrons who have made a bequest or other deferred planned gift arrangement for AVA in their estate planning. Gifts can be made in a variety of ways and allow donors to make meaningful gifts that they might not otherwise be able to commit to currently. In addition to bequests, AVA accepts charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, charitable gift annuities, life insurance, and retirement plan designations. The AVA Development department will work with you to identify the best Planned Giving option for your needs.

CORPORATE SPONSORSHIPS

Many visibility opportunities are available to corporations through AVA opera and concert sponsorships, and through sponsorship of the annual gala, Viva la Voce! The AVA Development department can tailor your sponsorship package to meet the unique philanthropic and marketing objectives of your business.

MATCHING GIFTS

Your employer may match your gift to AVA, either entirely or in some portion. In some instances, this may double or even triple the benefit of your gift to the Academy of Vocal Arts and its Resident Artists! Please check with your employer’s benefits office to determine their matching gift requirements.

THE UNITED WAY

AVA’s Opera Outreach program is eligible to receive individual contributions made through the United Way Specific Care Program. All you need to do is complete the top portion of your United Way form, and then find the line for SPECIFIC CARE and enter AVA’s code #3164, the amount of your gift, and the eligible agency name: Academy of Vocal Arts Opera Outreach.

Photo credit: Don Valentino
Left: 2023 Holiday Party at the College of Physicians
Photo credit: Adam Gierke
Below: President and Artistic Director Scott Guzielek and Chairman of the Board Rick Pitcairn thank patrons for attending Opening Night gala.

OPERATING INCOME

$4,441,016

Operating income consists of revenue from a variety of sources. Like many schools, the largest single revenue source for AVA is the investment income from its endowment. Unlike other schools or conservatories, AVA receives no income from tuition, and therefore must rely on support from our loyal patrons. Individual and foundation contributions, ticket sales, and special events, including the annual Gala, provide most of the remainder of our budget. In recent years, planned gifts and bequests have been an increasingly significant source of revenue support. Thank you to all who share our love for opera and want to help us train the voices for opera’s future!

UNRESTRICTED OPERATING EXPENSES

$4,291,443

The two largest expenditures in AVA’s budget, program payroll and benefits, along with opera theatre expenses, are directly related to the training program. Other costs are associated with recitals, concerts, and piano productions.

A SPECIAL THANK YOU

We would like to extend our thanks to all our donors and contributors. No matter the size of your donation, you are doing your part to ensure the future of opera by donating to the Academy of Vocal Arts and supporting talented Resident Artists. Thank you to our generous 2023/2024 leading supporters.

2023/24

SEASON SPONSORS

Walter and Alice Strine, Esquires

Sponsors of the Giargiari

Bel Canto Competition

Judith Broudy and Charlotte H. Watts

Sponsors of Anna Bolena

David A. and Helen P. Horn

Charitable Trust

Sponsor of Jubilate!

A Concert of Sacred Music

Victoria Eckert Zoellner and Charlotte H. Watts

Sponsor of Il barbiere di Siviglia

OUR MAJOR INDIVIDUAL SUPPORTERS:

Anonymous (4)

Dr. Diane Cole Ahl

R. Randolph Apgar and Allen D. Black

Christine and Peter Batchelor

Peter A. Benoliel and Willo Carey

John Bisignano and Alexandra Storm

Kay Bossone

Dr. Richard A. Brand

Dick and Sally Brickman

Judith Broudy

Elaine W. Camarda and

A. Morris Williams, Jr.

Dr. Dante Cerza

Mrs. Alice Chase

Col. Deborah Chase and Maria Barrera

Kristin Davidson

Barbara Donnelly Bentivoglio

Drs. Toby* and Bruce Eisenstein

Peter and Lily Ferry

Susanna Foo

Allen R. and Judith Brick Freedman

Anne D. Gardner

Mr. and Mrs. David L. Glickstein

Alan Gold and Dr. Frances Rosenblum

Peter G. Gould and Robin Potter

Carole Haas Gravagno

Peter and Louise Havens

Thomas Heckman and Mary Jo Ashenfelter

Dr. and Mrs. Warren J. Herbst

I. Gail Howard

Deanna Johnson

Susan E. Kane

Jane K. Karatzas

Dr. Richard B. Kent

Sheila H. Kessler

Donald and Gay Kimelman

Neal Krouse

Mary M. Lane

William L. Leonard

Peter and Judy Leone

Charlotte and Mackie MacLean

Dr. Douglas J. Manion

Jim McClelland and Dr. Lynn Miller

Joseph W. McGuire and Wilma Rossi

Dhun Mehta

Mr. and Mrs. C. George Milner

Christel Nyheim

Tom and Jody O’Rourke

Mr. and Mrs. Michael Paolone

Elizabeth Pitcairn

Harold F. (Rick) Pitcairn II

Geoff Pohanka and Anne Kline

Merle Raab

Suzanne Root, Esq.

Dr. Ivan Rudolph

Drs. Ruth and Steven Ryave

Carolyn Seidle and James Goff

Susan E. Sherman

Jacob and Meghan Smith

Jonne and Corey Smith

Drs. Richard and Rhonda Soricelli

Walter and Alice Strine, Esquires

Barbara A. Teichert

Alan Thistlethwaite and Bryna Stepak

Mr. and Mrs. William G. Warden IV

Mr. and Mrs. Gordon M. Wase, Esq.

Charlotte Watts

Helen S. Weary

Victoria Eckert Zoellner

Photo credit: Morgan Horell

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