Founders


OFFICERS:

John has been actively involved in promoting operatic music in Michigan since his moving to Detroit from New York in 1979. He started his music endeavors by making presentations and organizing exhibits on the life of Giuseppe Verdi and on the history of opera, subsequently becoming a co-founder of the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan/Statue of Enrico Caruso Society in 1988. With the Verdi Opera he also instituted the annual Italian Songs and Arias Vocal Competition for Michigan High School Students, beginning in 1995, which has earned a reputation as one of the top competitions for young student vocalists in the State.

Our audiences are an integral part of the exciting atmosphere at each event with their enthusiastic applause contributing to the performance. We take pride in the Verdi opera helping to make opera accessible to a wide range of audiences by providing free or low cost programs to hundreds of people in our area each year. Our commitment is also to encourage and help support vocal music students by developing young artists through our annual vocal competition, by awarding various scholarship prizes, and by providing opportunities for these emerging talents to perform at our concerts.  This has resulted in the rewarding experience of several of those singers being engaged to perform with major opera companies, including New York's Metropolitan Opera and Milan's La Scala. Bravissimi!

We are also gratified by and pleased with our collaborations with prestigious organizations such as the Detroit Institute of Arts, Michigan Opera Theatre, International Institute in Detroit, La Scala Instrumental Ensemble and the Parma Opera Ensemble from Italy, Shakespeare Festival in Stratford, Canada, Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, Italian American Cultural Society, Italian American Club of Livonia Charitable Foundation, University of Michigan School of Music, Oberlin College Conservatory of Music, Wayne State University, Gettysburg College/Sunderman Conservatory of Music, Rutgers University Italian Graduate Society, and many other fine organizations that we have had the pleasure of being invited to and of working with. It challenged and inspired us to continue our endeavors to aim for the highest standards.

We love to share with you the thrill of live performance and to stimulate you with great operatic music, striving to always provide excellence and value through our featuring of acclaimed artists and gifted young singers, as you will experience by attending our concerts.

Thank you for your loyalty and support and we'll look forward to seeing you soon at our events.

 

Our ten-member Board of Directors come from a variety of professional backgrounds and are also actively involved in other non-profit cultural and civic organizations. With their commitment and input they contribute to the decision-making of the organization.