Bel Canto

Summer Vocal Programs for Youth and Adults

Awards

Award recipients at the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum on Lake George

Bel Canto Institute Performance Award
All participants may apply for this award.

Recipients of the Bel Canto Institute Performance Award will be presented in the following recitals:

  • One on Thursday evening, August 6, 2020, at the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum at Lake George, New York.
  • One on Sunday afternoon, August 9, 2020, at the Redeemer Evangelical Lutheran Church in New Paltz, New York.
In front of the “language studio” at the Marcella Sembrich Opera Museum
An afternoon at Mohonk Mountain House

Housing and transportation will be provided. Sightseeing will be included, weather and time permitting.


Criteria for this award are performance potential, musicianship, expressiveness in the Italian language (applicable to both Vocal Programs only), and growth during the Bel Canto Institute Summer Programs and Youth Division Summer Programs.

These awards will be presented at the farewell dinner of the Bel Canto Institute program. Those who wish to be considered for this award must be available five days prior to the first recital through the evening of the last recital.

Bel Canto Institute Orchestral Performance Award
All participants may apply for this award.

BCI Orchestral Award Recipients with Radio Host (above), and in front of radio station WDEV (below)

The Bel Canto Institute Orchestral Performance Award will consist of two performances with the Vermont Philharmonic, a full, high quality symphony which was founded in 1959 and is Central Vermont’s oldest community symphony orchestra.

These two performances will take place one weekend in October, the first on a Saturday evening and the second the following afternoon, Sunday. One performance will be at the Barre Opera House in Barre, Vermont, the other at another venue in Central Vermont. Rehearsal with the orchestra and Music Director Louis A. Kosma will be the Thursday evening before the first performance. The exact dates will be available prior to the summer program. Vocal participants interested in being considered for this award must be available from the Wednesday evening prior to the first concert to the morning after the second. Housing and transportation will be provided.

Criteria for this award are

  • age appropriate technical proficiency;
  • performance potential;
  • musicianship;
  • expressiveness in the use of the Italian language;
  • ability to incorporate style and traditions taught during the Summer Program.

Singers who wish to be considered must have a minimum of three arias prepared to work on during the Summer Program (Youth Division singers: three arias from the Early Anthology). Ensembles may be assigned, depending upon the recipients of the Award. All repertoire must be memorized.

This award will be presented at the farewell dinner of the Bel Canto Institute Summer Programs.