Over the bridge...

I never thought of AVA as “party central” but if one gala is good, three are just great! The year started with the Bucks County Opera Association Gala in February, followed by the AVA Viva la Voce! gala in March, and now the South Jersey Opera Association had their time to sparkle with Libiamo! this past Saturday.

South Jersey Opera Association (SOJA) is the newest jewel in the AVA’s crown. It was started three years ago with the help of Denise Stuart, AVA’s Director of PR and Marketing, and NJ resident. She saw interest for opera and music in the NJ area and helped AVA began their move into NJ with the Jubilate! concert. In 2005, fully staged opera was presented. First at the Commerce Bank Arts Center, then at Rutgers/Camden Gordon Theater.

The gala on Saturday night was the third event for this new group. It was used to help promote the production of La traviata which will be performed at the Gordon Theater at the Rutgers Camden Campus on May 17.  The event took place at Commerce University, the banks dramatic new training facility which includes a professional theater and three-story atrium.

What hit me the most was the number of young patrons who attended the event. If they are not opera lovers yet, they will be when they see La traviata. The SJOA committee does one of the best silent auctions I have seen, with over 40 different items to choose from including a week stay in Sedona to a diamond ring. Along with the silent auction, there was a raffle of sixteen items, which yours truly called out the winning numbers with the help of Box Office Manager Robin Marcotte, and Director of Institutional Advancement, Bob Lyon.

The best part of the evening, of course, was the wonderful singing from the resident artists, Taylor Stayton, Corinne Winters, and Ryan Kuster (pictured with Luke Housner). Ariya Sawadivong, Cody Austin, alum Eric Dubin and Octavio Moreno were also there to sing as guest artists, all under the musical direction of Luke Housner.

So what’s the bottom line? This year SJOA raised more than the previous years at almost $30,000, which will help the scholarship fund at AVA.

1. AVA Board members Susan Kane and Ann Stephenson (also Bucks County Opera Association members) take the pen to the silent auction items.
2. Tenor Cody Austin and baritone Octavio Moreno sing the duet from the Pearl Fishers.
3. Tenor Taylor Stayton and soprano Corinne Winters sing the duet from The Merry Widow.