AVAround the World: Spring | Summer '24

www.avaopera.org

GIVING VOICE TO OPERA'S FUTURE

LEADERSHIP

Scott Guzielek President & Artistic Director

Christofer Macatsoris

Jeannie B. Cowles Music Director Chair

ADMINISTRATION

Dr. Josh Miller · Dean of Students & Artistic Administrator

José Meléndez · Librarian & Assistant to the Music Director

Rebecca Carr ('90) · Coordinator for Opera Outreach

Laura Avellino · Administrative Associate

FINANCE

Constantina Christou · Chief Financial Officer

Eileen Cella · Director of Finance & Business Operations

Amalia Wilson · Bookkeeper

DEVELOPMENT

Jason Ward · Director of Institutional Advancement

Emily Bernard · Development Manager

Judith Lovat ('90) · Special Events Manager

Stephen J. Edwards-Trygar · Development & Alumni Relations Coordinator

MARKETING

Bill Buddendorf · Director of Patron Engagement

Andrew Rohe · Marketing & Public Relations Manager

PRODUCTION

AJ Klein · Production & Facilities Manager

Becca Smith · Stage Manager

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

Lily Ferry I. Gail Howard

Scott Hickman

Dr. Richard B. Kent

Mark Kerschner

Dr. Douglas J. Manion

Joseph W. McGuire, Esq.

Marlene F. Milner

Latonia Moore ('04)

Suzanne Root, Esq.

Dr. Ruth Ryave

Corey Smith

Walter M. Strine, Jr., Esq.

Richard Troxell ('92)

Maria G. Vogiatzi, MD

P. Jeffrey Warden

Gordon M. Wase, Esq.

Charlotte H. Watts

Welcome

Wearing our art on our sleeves

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Spring/Summer 2024 issue of the Academy of Vocal Arts' semi-annual periodical AVAround the World ! This periodical aims to bring you news about all of AVA's incredible alumni through articles, interviews, and engagement calendars.

In this issue of AVAround the World, I am happy to share many of our alumni's engagements between April and July of 2024. I also had the pleasure of being able to interview two incredible alumni, who—in their own ways—aim to bring beauty and meaning to the garments and adornments we wear. Rebecca Carr ('90) has blended her love for both opera and nature into making jewelry inspired by operatic heroines. Her story of founding Belle Pietre and her process in making these stunning pieces can be found on Page 16. Luigi Boccia ('12) joined his husband's company Brooklyn Tweed as CoOwner & Business Development and Operations Director. Brooklyn Tweed is a company that manufactures breed-specific yarns that fortify the American fiber supply chain and crafts knitwear designs that are inclusive of all shapes and sizes. Read all about his journey with Brooklyn Tweed on Page 10.

This June, we're honored to have several alumni join us for the 2024 Viva la Voce! Gala in honor of AVA's former President and Artistic Director Kevin James McDowell. The event will have

performances from Latonia Moore ('04), Kara Goodrich ('21), Hannah Ludwig ('18), and Timothy Renner ('20). We're equally excited for all the performances, projects, and events that our alumni are engaged in, and we look forward to hearing about all of them from you.

To all alumni, whether you are still performing regularly or not at all, know that we here at AVA are incredibly proud of all your accomplishments. To all my readers, whether you are alumni or another member of the AVA family, I'd like to thank you for your support in this project. It has been an honor in getting to know more about AVA's talented alumni, and I hope to hear from you soon.

Stephen J. Edwards-Trygar

Stephen J. EdwardsTrygar, Development and Alumni Relations Coordinator

Dominick Chenes and Marina CostaJackson in AVA's 2013 production of Un ballo in maschera

Engagements AVA

alumni are thrilling audiences around the world with their performances in operas, concerts, recitals, and more!

APRIL

DATE PERFORMANCE/EVENT ALUMNI

1, 7, 14

3, 6

5, 7, 9,11, 13, 15

Rigoletto

La Cenerentola

Cublai,grankande‘Tartari

5, 12, 18, 30 Der Freischütz

6, 13 Der Rosenkavalier

6, 13, 18 La traviata

6 Norma

7 Liedmatinee

7, 14 Rigoletto

8, 12, 17, 20, 24, 27

FireShutUpinMyBones

12, 14, 19, 21 La bohème

13, 21, 24, 28 Turandot

17 La Cenerentola

19, 21, 27 Don Giovanni

20, 21, 27, 28 Don Giovanni

21, 27

Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci

25, 26, 27, 28 La bohème

Piotr Buszewski

Michele Angelini

Alasdair Kent

Christopher Bolduc

Piotr Buszewski

Galeano Salas

COMPANY/VENUE

Oper Leipzig

Opéra National Capitole Toulouse

MusikTheater an der Wien

Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Oper Leipzig

Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Anne Marie Stanley Palm Beach Opera

Jorge Espino

Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Randall Jakobsh Oper Leipzig

Latonia Moore

Galeano Salas

The Metropolitan Opera

Teatro Carlo Felice

Christopher Bolduc Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Alasdair Kent

Patrick Guetti

Peter Barber

Zachary Nelson

Vanessa Vasquez

Jorge Espino

John Viscardi

Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Houston Grand Opera

Arizona Opera

Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Intermountain Opera Bozeman

25, 29

26, 28, 30

26, 30

26, 28

26, 28

27, 30

MAY

1, 3

Carmen

The Sound of Music

MadamaButterfly

MadamaButterfly

MadamaButterfly

DieWalküre

Don Giovanni

2 FireShutUpinMyBones

3, 9, 13, 18, 22, 25

3, 5

3, 5

3, 5

4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 12

4, 12

4, 7, 11

4, 5, 10, 11, 12

4, 8

5, 9, 16, 19, 30

5, 10, 15, 18, 21, 24, 28, 31

Carmen

DieWalküre

ElúltimosueñodeFriday Diego

MadamaButterfly

Carmen

Der Rosenkavalier

MadamaButterfly

The Sound of Music

Turandot

Götterdämmerung

The Hours

10, 19 Rigoletto

11, 13, 17, 19, 22, 24, 25

11, 17, 19

12, 25

Turandot

TheCunningLittleVixen

Cavalleria Rusticana/ Pagliacci

18, 19 ¡CANCIÓN!

18, 26, 30 Turandot

25 LediMakbetMtsenskogo uyezda

29 LenozzediFigaro

31 Lohengrin

31 Otello

Michael Adams

Michael Fabiano

Ailyn Pérez

Renée Richardson

Elaine Alvarez (cover)

Anne Marie Stanley

Corinne Winters

The Metropolitan Opera

Houston Grand Opera

The Metropolitan Opera

Opera Philadelphia

San Diego Opera

Viktor Antipenko The Atlanta Opera

Patrick Guetti

Latonia Moore

Michael Adams

Michael Fabiano

Ailyn Pérez

Houston Grand Opera

The Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera

Viktor Antipenko The Atlanta Opera

Levi Hernandez

Anne Marie Stanley

Octavio Moreno

Piotr Buszewski

Elaine Alvarez (cover)

Opera Omaha

Opera Philadelphia

Opera Southwest

Oper Leipzig

The Metropolitan Opera

Renée Richardson Houston Grand Opera

Christopher Bolduc Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Nicole Piccolomini Staatsoper Stuttgart

Joyce DiDonato

Richard Troxell (cover)

Piotr Buszewski

Ethan Vincent

Wes Mason (cover)

Jorge Espino

Levi Hernandez

Angela Meade

The Metropolitan Opera

Oper Leipzig

Washington National Opera

Detroit Opera

Deutsche Oper am Rhein

Lyric Fest

Los Angeles Opera

Randal Jakobsh Oper Leipzig

Christopher Bolduc Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Christopher Bolduc Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Piotr Buszewski

Teatro dell‘Opera di Roma

JUNE

1, 3 Don Giovanni

2 FireShutUpinMyBones

3, 9, 13, 18, 22, 25 Carmen

Rigoletto

1, 9 Der Freischütz

1, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12 Otello

2 Götterdämmerung

2 Liedmatinee

2, 5, 8 Turandot

6, 22 Turandot

6, 8, 12, 14, 17, 19 Die Zauberflöte

7 La traviata

Patrick Guetti

Latonia Moore

Michael Adams

Michael Fabiano

Ailyn Pérez

Anne Marie Stanley

Houston Grand Opera

The Metropolitan Opera

The Metropolitan Opera

Royal Opera House (Japan Tour)

Christopher Bolduc Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Piotr Buszewski Teatro dell‘Opera di Roma

Nicole Piccolomini Staatsoper Stuttgart

Jorge Espino

Angela Meade

Deutsche Oper am Rhien

Los Angeles Opera

Christopher Bolduc Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden

Daniel Gallegos Les Arts, València

Galeano Salas

Deutsche Oper am Rhien 15 Rigoletto

20, 26, 28 La traviata

21, 23, 25, 27, 30 Ariadne auf Naxos

23, 30 Turandot

28 Broadway Lights Vol. II

29, 30 TheFallingandtheRising

JULY

Piotr Buszewski Randall Jakobsh Oper Leipzig

Jorge Espino

John Matthew Myers

Othalie Graham

Richard Troxell

Valerian Ruminski (producer)

Vebier Festival Atelier Lyrique Chelsea Laggan

1 Music for NewBodies

13, 17, 26, 30 TheRighteous

Peter Barber

Deutsche Oper am Rhien

Teatro La Fenice

Palacio de Bellas Artes

Czech National Symphony Orchestra

Nickle City Opera

Vebier Festival

Aspen Music Festival and School

Timothy Murray (cover) Santa Fe Opera 20, 24 Der Rosenkavalier

Scott Conner Zachary Nelson Santa Fe Opera

*Pleasenotethatthislistisnotcomprehensiveofallalumniengagements.Shareyour upcomingengagementswithusatanytimeatalumni@avaopera.org .

El-Khoury

Joyce

and Ariya Sawadivong in AVA's 2007 production of Così fan tutte

Woven Together

I’vealwaysoperatedwiththebeliefthatifit bringsyoujoyanditmakesyoufeelalive, you’llfindawaytomakeitwork

During his studies at the Academy of Vocal Arts, Luigi Boccia ('12) underweant a joint endeavor to help his husband Jared Flood turn Brooklyn Tweed from a blog into a yarn and knitwear design company. Together, they put everything they had into following their passions.

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: Thank you for taking the time to chat with me! As you know, I'm an avid knitter, and Brooklyn Tweed has been important to me! I'm curious, how did Brooklyn Tweed get started?

LUIGI BOCCIA: Brooklyn Tweed started at the end of 2005 from a blog that Jared created while he was working as an administrative assistant at the Juilliard School in New York. He grew up in a household with a mom who is an avid crafter. My mother-in-law is a really talented knitter, and sewer, and quilter, and just a really crafty person who likes

to do things with her hands. She has also always been a fan of natural fiber. So, Jared kind of watched his mom knit throughout his childhood. She kind of taught him the basic steps as a kid, but it really didn’t take. When Jared went to college, there was a friend there who was knitting a hat. He was interested in what she was doing, and she revived that passion a little bit. When Jared went to New York, he was there alone, he had just gotten this new job—and,

LEFT: Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in the colorway Embers.

BELOW: Luigi wearing the first sweater he ever knit: Cobblestone by Jared Flood, made with Brooklyn Tweed Shelter in the colorway Long Johns.

you know how it is when you move to a new, large city like New York or Philly with all that stress and time on your hands—so, he thought to fill that time by studying knitting books and magazines. He was a young guy who didn’t have any real knitting friends and he thought, “well, maybe there’s an online community that I can chat with online, share my thoughts and passion for knitting with.” So, he started this blog. He was living in Brooklyn, has always been a textural lover and a painter by trade, and among all the yarns out there, he was most attracted to the tweedy yarns because the colors are so rich and complex. He decided to call the blog Brooklyn Tweed.

Around 2007/2008, Pam Allen, who later founded Quince & Co., reached out to Jared as the editor of Interweave Press to publish a pattern. Then, Vogue Knitting asked Jared to do a pair of mittens, which ended up on the cover! In 2009, he was approached by the CEO of Classic Elite Yarns to develop a yarn line for them, but the textile industry was going through a bit of a crisis. He wanted to find a way to do this in a way that

was impactful, not to mention he wanted something uniquely his and not just have someone slap his name on their product. So, he reached out to Harrisville Designs, a mill in New Hampshire, and they gave him all the ins and outs of what goes into making a yarn line.

I come from a small business manufacturing/ textile environment myself. I grew up in a family where my dad ran a cut and sew lab where we made leather jackets and accessories. We brainstormed a lot, and I was in full support. Money wasn’t even a concern; we had gone for a few years without being able to buy cheese (ha!). For me, it was about the joy of the endeavor it brought him, so when we were brainstorming, I gave my full support. At that point, I was in the process of going to Philadelphia and AVA. At the same time, I was already deeply involved in some of the big decisions being made, such as finding a broker in Wyoming and asking him to supply us with breed-specific wool. The idea that the product wouldn’t just be American made but would also be breed-specific was what sealed the deal for us. We put together this supply chain [for

our first yarn line], then we asked the mill to run the numbers… and they gave us the numbers for what this first round of Shelter would cost; that was everything, down to the penny, that we had in our bank account. Jared was getting nervous at that point, but I’ve always operated with the belief that if it brings you joy and it makes you feel alive, you’ll find a way to make it work.

Three months later, in October of 2010, we launched Shelter—and I say “we” because I already had skin in the game even though I was about to move to Philadelphia. We had only contacted 11 stores that were interested in carrying the product, and a week later, the whole first round of Shelter was entirely sold out. We had stores from all over the United States sending us emails asking if they could be suppliers!

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: What a wonderful story! So, what is your role at Brooklyn Tweed?

LUIGI BOCCIA: I am the Business Development & Operations Director along with being the coowner. This year, I celebrated my 10th Anniversary at Brooklyn Tweed! I came into this with an open mind, understanding that Jared had really planted some incredible seeds. At the same time, these seeds each needed a lot of care and nurturing to grow and blossom. When I decided to make my career transition, Jared needed a lot of help. It became pretty clear from the beginning that Jared’s and my skillsets, as far as this specific business environment, are perfectly complementary. The things he loves to do are things he’s really talented at: designing, photographing, developing yarns, colors, and creative directing. The things I like to do are very different, I like financials, systems, people, strategy, partnerships, and the legal side of things. In the beginning, I took to learning like a sponge because I thought I didn’t have all the skills. I wanted to learn how to do it all, but people kept telling me, “You’re a natural!” One day I realized that a lot of skills I was using were all things I had learned while I was building a career as an opera singer.

PAGE 12:

LEFT: Umaro by Jared Flood | RIGHT: Jared (left) and Luigi (right) wearing t-shirts made for the Brooklyn Tweed team for surviving the COVID-19 pandemic

PAGE 13:

LEFT: The Brooklyn Tweed Headquarters in Portland, OR | ABOVE: The Brooklyn Tweed team in 2021

That day, I became grateful for the whole professional performing experience. Overseeing the financial health of a company can be a very stressful thing, but for me personally is not that difficult. I think that the basic principle from an MBA is don’t spend more money than you make! I feel really empowered with who I am ten years later, to know that this was inside me and that this was possible makes me excited about whatever else is possible, whether that be Brooklyn Tweed, singing again, or doing other things I want to do.

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: If I may ask, what makes Brooklyn Tweed so special?

LUIGI BOCCIA: Between our vision, values, and products, we have created a unique puzzle that requires work and conviction. We are proud that we have been able to keep all the pieces together for as long as we have. 

SHARE YOUR STORY

Thank you to Luigi for sharing his story. It is a privledge to share stories of AVA alumni, and we look forward to sharing more like this one in future issues of AVAround the World. AVA values the contributions of all alumni, and we want to hear from you! Please share your news, updates, and stories with alumni@avaopera. org.

ABOUT LUIGI

Luigi develops every aspect of Brooklyn Tweed’s short and long-term growth strategy. He loves building relationships with our partners to create the very best yarns and patterns. Through it all, Luigi ensures Brooklyn Tweed always remains faithful to the core principles of transparency, accountability and timeless quality.

He returned to singing publicly with his recital series titled "Luigi Sings Naples" in February, 2024 in Portland, OR; the series explored his childhood vocal explorations and Neapolitan life. He recently ran in both the Berlin and Paris marathons, and is enjoying life with his husband and French Bulldogs.

ABOVE: Luigi sporting the Timberline cardigan, designed by Jared Flood and made with Shelter in the colorway Almanac.

UPPER RIGHT: Promotional material from Luigi's recital in February 2024.

LOWER RIGHT: Luigi at the Paris (left) and Berlin (right) marathons.

Heroines of the Earth

I

love describing to students how opera is not only a connection between musical art forms but that it also connects with just about everything else artistically, historically,socially,politically,etc.,ifyou but look

Rebecca Carr's ('90) love for opera has transcended her voice and the stage. She has combined her love for opera and for nature into making gorgeous pieces of jewelry inspired by the operatic heroines in the art she has loved and admired all her life.

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: Thank you so much for taking the time to chat

with me! I'm curious, what brought you from opera into the world of jewelry crafting and design?

REBECCA CARR: I’m the daughter of a nature lover and a Design Engineer, so I’ve always been drawn to the wonders of Mother Earth and to designing and creating things. My parents both were blessed with exacting attention to detail, and that has served me well, especially with my jewelry.

As a performer, I’ve always loved and worn oodles of jewelry. Coming up as a singer when I did, rhinestones were the de rigeur stage jewelry, and the more the better. Hair, too, being the late 80s! My love of bold, statement pieces is still just as strong, but now they take a more natural, organic form.

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: How did Belle Pietre form from there?

RIGHT PAGE: Rebecca Carr ('90) crafting a few pieces of Belle Pietre jewelry.

BELOW:

Rebecca wearing a piece of her own design.

REBECCA CARR: Belle Pietre was part accident, and part Little White Lie. The accident part happened the summer AVA classmate, Caroline Whisnant ('91), was visiting from Germany where she was singing. We went to the Philadelphia Folk Festival to hear singer/ songwriter Dan May ('93) (our AVA colleague) perform.

We stopped in Chestnut Hill on the way home, and Caroline wanted to peek into a bead shop. I wasn’t at all interested until I saw a strand of the most incredible stones! We stayed there to make them into necklaces, and I was certain that was that.

The Little White Lie part happened shortly thereafter at a darling artisan jewelry boutique on Pine Street named Adornamenti. I happened to see gorgeous stone necklaces in the window, much like what I’d just made, and popped in to browse.

The lovely owner and I chatted, and when he asked if I were a designer, I nodded. Before I could qualify that I couldn’t even be called a novice, he suggested I bring a group of pieces to him to sell in the shop!

I went home with performance anxiety like that of being offered a role I wasn’t sure I could sing, and birthed the name, Belle Pietre (“Beautiful Stones” in Italian) and the idea that the pieces would be “operatic” not only in name, but in proportion. Distinctive, one-of-a-kind, statement pieces inspired by the heroines they were named for. The next step was a visit to 37th Street in NYC, simply choosing strands that my eye was drawn to for their color and/or shape. Back at my Spruce Street kitchen table, I worked them into designs that appealed to me, and happily, they appealed to Adornamenti’s clients too, and thus began my Bauble-ing Journey!

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS- TRYGAR: The materials you use to make your pieces are so gorgeous! How do you typically start a piece? Are you typically inspired by the materials used or do you have an idea in mind and find the materials from there?

REBECCA CARR: You know, as AVA’s Coordinator of Opera Outreach, I love describing to students how opera is not only a connection between musical art

forms but that it also connects with just about everything else artistically, historically, socially, politically, etc., if you but look.

It’s exactly the same with my jewelry! There’s always a connection to find or make, and it’s actually become a part of how I think now. That translates to every aspect of this life of ours, too. That may be a bit “woo woo,” so let me give you an example. It can start with the role, say Otello’s Desdemona. Who is she?

I immediately envision a pale color, maybe white, maybe mother-of-pearl. The shape then, given her story, would naturally be teardrops. Can you envision that? The design would be a single strand, delicate and feminine to mirror her beauty and innocence.

On the other hand, I’ll spy gorgeous watery blue stones at a gem show and Rusalka the Water Nymph pops right to mind. Regal, dark purple amethyst is most often Lucia to me, for her noble birth, stones worthy of an Ethiopian Princess must be Aïda, and bright, bold red can be NO one but Carmen.

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: I love how much opera has influence on the pieces you make! How do you translate that musical/performative influence into a piece of jewelry?

REBECCA CARR: Oh, my jewelry loves to be on stage as much as I do! Many of my pieces, especially for performers, are intentionally designed to enhance and illuminate without

PAGE:

Rebecca Carr and Angélique

THIS

Angélique Kidjo wearing an amethyst Belle Pietre piece as she performs around the world.

RIGHT:

Kidjo at the "Care of the Professional Voice" Symposium in 2023.

overpowering. I always want them to make a statement but not vie for attention.

That said, my pieces are purposefully intended to be worn more often than for special events. A statement piece can be just as appropriate for daytime with a blouse or on weekends with a simple white tee as with formal wear. I want my Baubles to be worn and seen, and for their wearers to be able to tell the story of the piece when they’re complimented on it, which they will be.

As I said, my Baubles are all about connection. Between my opera life and Baubles, between the Baubles and their wearers, and the stories the wearers will have to tell about the Baubles

themselves. This is another form of opera outreach I like to call Bauble Outreach!

STEPHEN

J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: Where can one find your beautiful Baubles?

REBECCA CARR: My website is: www.bellepietre.com. It’s always being updated with new, one-ofa-kind pieces. Oh, and I should mention here that the price point of my jewelry is designed to be less than the cost of an opera ticket.

Daily posts can be found on Facebook and Instagram, and are the best way to see the newest pieces, what’s growing here in my little corner of the Finger Lakes,

and the antics of my trusty (cat) assistant, Kismet.

In late May, I will be showing in Philadelphia at the Voice Foundation’s “Care of the Professional Voice” Symposium. I was there for the first time last year, and have been invited back by Dr. Sataloff himself. If you don’t mind me name dropping, last year the incredible Angélique Kidjo was honored at their Gala. She purchased Baubles herself and was gifted with more by her Parisian ENT who was there. The thrill of meeting her that night was only heightened by seeing her wear that Amethyst necklace and earrings on stage in Canada, France, and the US! And again when she remembered me when I saw her

again backstage after a concert here in NY that summer!

STEPHEN J. EDWARDS-TRYGAR: Does Belle Pietre offer any additional services beyond original hand-crafted pieces?

REBECCA CARR: Absolutley! The most important service I offer is a Lifetime Guarantee for everything I create. Even the finest materials can require repair when a piece is wellloved and well-worn. Additionally, I go to great lengths to make sure a piece lays just “so,” and am always happy to resize or rework a piece for a woman’s unique neckline.

Speaking of reworking, I also create pieces from beads and stones that one purchased themselves, or have been gifted with a piece that’s simply not “them” and is sitting in a drawer unworn. I enjoy giving new life to old pieces and sending them back out into the world.

And custom pieces! Collaborating with someone to bring their Bauble vision to life is an absolute joy, be it for a special gift, a special day, or a special performance. My Baubles have had the honor of having been to the altar several times, too!

Last but not least, one of the best things I do are private Trunk Shows here in the Finger Lakes and in the Philadelphia area. It’s a lovely way for women to gather a group of friends or club members together for a casual party with nibbles, drinks, and Baubles. I love meeting people this way, chatting

about exactly what we’re talking about here - the “why” of what I do - and to discover how we’re connected. 

ABOUT REBECCA

Beginning in Auburn, New York, Miss Carr played mandolin, violin, and piano before starting the vocal training that led her to Ithaca College (BM), The University of North Carolina at Greensboro (MM), and to be granted the Artists' Diploma from Philadelphia's prestigious Academy of Vocal Arts.

Her commitment to introducing the Art of Opera to people of all ages led Miss Carr to coordinate the Opera Outreach program at her alma mater, The Academy of Vocal Arts, and to be involved in other outreach organizations, boasting that hers is the operatic voice that made thousands of youngsters cover their ears.

To learn more about Rebecca, you can visit her website at rebeccacarr.com.

TOP RIGHT: Rebecca Carr wearing her Aïda Necklace.

ABOVE: Contessa Earrings

Belle Pietre Jewelry bellepietrejewelry

01 Senta Lapis Lazuli Necklace

Dorabella Bracelet 03 Salome Green Amazonite Earrings 04 Vanessa Necklace 05 Mimi Bracelet

SHARE YOUR STORY

Thank you to Rebecca for sharing her story. It is a privledge to share stories of AVA alumni, and we look forward to sharing more like this one in future issues of AVAround the World. AVA values the contributions of all alumni, and we want to hear from you! Please share your news, updates, and stories with alumni@avaopera. org.

(215) 735-1685

alumni@avaopera.org

facebook.com/avaopera instagram.com/avaopera tiktok.com/@avaopera linkedin/school/the-academy-of-vocal-arts

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