AVA Opera Blog

An Inside Look at AVA's 2017/2018 Opera Season

Welcome to the start of the Academy of Vocal Arts' 2017/2018 Opera season! To kick off this season, let's peel back the curtain and take an inside look at the stories that we can expect to see on the AVA stage in the coming months...

First up, Il trovatore! 

 

Gypsies, mysterious troubadours and hidden identities are just a few of the treats that this Verdi work offers up. Count di Luna is infatuated with the beautiful Leonora, who does not return his affections. Instead, she falls in love with the Count's rival, a troubadour who serenades Leonora and keeps his identity a secret. This rivalry sets in place a plot full of murder, mystery, and of course, tragic love. 

Angela Meade performed Leonora at the Metropolitan Opera in February 2016. Luis Ledesma sang the role of Count di Luna at Teatro de Bellas Artes in 2013. Indra Thomas as Leonora with the Arizona Opera and Austin Lyric Opera.

This production of Il trovatore will be conducted by Maestro Christofer Macatsoris and staged by Michael Scarola, who previously staged an AVA production of Anna Bolena.

Now that you are sufficiently enticed, come check out Il trovatore, opening on November 4th and running through the 28th! Performances in Center City, Buck's County (November 21 at Central Bucks South High School), and Haverford (November 28 at the Haverford School's Centennial Hall). 

 

Next up is the Wagner's iconic Das Rheingold! 

Since it's 1869 premiere, Wagner's Ring Cycle has been widely acknowledged as one of the greatest operatic works every composed. Join the crowd of Wagner enthusiasts that will descend upon the Helen Corning Warden Theatre in January 2018 to see this masterpiece! 

A story of gods, dwarfs, and Rhine maidens, Das Rheingold is a cautionary tale about the price of too much power. Rumored to have influenced J.R.R Tolkien's massive franchise The Lord of the Rings, Wagner's opera paints a picture of a dwarf named Alberich, who manages to come into possession of the Rhine gold, a ring that enables it's bearer to rule the world, but at a terrible cost. 

Many AVA Alumni have performed Das Rheingold over years, such as:

Nicole Piccolomini has performed the roles of Flosshilde, and Erda at the Deutsche Oper Berlin and Oper Leipzig, respectively. Michael Fabiano has performed the role of Froh. 

Luke Housner will accompany the Resident Artists on piano.

 

Opening in February 2018 is Ariadne auf Naxos by Richard Strauss! 

This Strauss favorite tells the story of two troupes of musicians who arrive at a dinner party to be told that they must perform each of their acts simultaneously. The result is a colorful and mystical tale of Ariadne and how she meets and falls in love with the god Bacchus. 

Conductor David Aronson will be making his Philadelphia debut conducting the AVA Opera Orchestra in February and March of 2018! The last AVA Performance of Ariadne auf Naxos was during the 1992-1993 season, however many AVA Alumni have performed these roles throughout the years! Joyce DiDonato sang the role of Composer at the Metropolitan Opera in 2011. Richard Troxell performed as the Wig Master/Brighella. Daniel Mobbs has performed the role of Harlequin.

Prepare your wine glasses for the arrival of Ariadne auf Naxos in February 2018!

 

Closing out our AVA season will be Verdi's La traviata! 

Running from April 21-May 1, 2018, La traviata has endured the years as an opera classic. Plagued by sickness, Violetta finds love in Alfredo, but before long they are torn apart by betrayal. A "fallen woman", she is forced to abandon her lover, until the truth comes out and they are reunited, if only for a moment. 

This season Jeffrey Marc Buchman will return as stage director with Maestro Christofer Macatsoris leading the AVA Opera Orchestra. You may remember Mr. Buchman from his direction of recent AVA productions such as Don Giovanni and Die Zauberflöte. 

AVA Alumni are no stranger to these roles...

Stephen Costello and Michael Fabiano have sung Alfredo in productions at the Metropolitan opera. 

Daniel Mobbs sang the role of Baron Doupol in the 2015 Opera Philadelphia production, with current AVA Resident Artist Roy Hage.

Eric Dubin sang Il barone Doupohol in the Opera Company of Philadelphia's 2010 production.

 

AVA's season also includes annual favorites, such as the Giargiari Bel Canto competition, Russian Romances and Jubilate! 

There you have it, folks! AVA has a wonderful season lined up, so if you haven't already subscribed, what are you waiting for? Subscriptions are available now, and single tickets will be on sale starting Tuesday, September 5th! We look forward to seeing you at the opera! 

 

About the author: Caitlin McCarthy is the Administrative Associate at the Academy of Vocal Arts.  

AVA Soundbites: La bohème 2015

Last season's production of "La bohème" at AVA saw many award-winning singers in the cast - including Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions National Winner Marina Costa-Jackson as Mimì (in a split cast with 2015 Giargiari Bel Canto Competition winner Vanessa Vasquez) and MONCA Grand Finalist Jared Bybee as Marcello.

Ms. Costa-Jackson will sing Musetta in "La bohème" opening this Saturday (October 17) with Michigan Opera Theatre in Detroit. Mackenzie Whitney, who sang opposite Ms. Costa-Jackson as Roldolfo (pictured, right), reprises the role in his debut with Madison (WI) Opera this November.

And, as one might expect from "The World's Most Popular Opera" AVAlumni are regularly featured in "La bohème" in opera houses around the world every season.

Also this Saturday (October 17) at 1PM, WRTI listeners can hear Michael Fabiano ('09) singing Rodolfo in a broadcast from San Francisco Opera. You can stream WRTI online at their website. Mr. Fabiano is also singing Rodolfo with Opernhaus Zürich November 1-December 1 with Shelley Jackson ('14) singing Musetta.

AVAlumni are also featured in the current English National Opera production (running through November 26) with Zach Borichevsky ('12) singing Rodolfo opposite Corinne Winters' ('11) Mimì with Nicholas Masters ('11) singing Colline (pictured, left). Additional photos (under copyright) are available here and at the ENO website. Mr. Borichevsky sang Rodolfo in the 2010 AVA production and made his European debut in the role with the Finnish National Opera in Helsinki. Ms. Winters also sang Mimì with Washington National Opera last season.

Mr. Masters sang Colline in AVA's 2011 production and also sang Commentadore of "Don Giovanni" in AVA's 2010 production. AVA's 2015 "Don Giovanni" runs November 7-21 in Center City, the Main Line, Lehigh Valley and Bucks County.

The title role in that 2010 "Don Giovanni" was Scott Conner ('12), who is scheduled to sing Colline in "La bohème" with San Francisco Opera next Fall and will split the role with Mr. Masters in the 2010 AVA production.

This December, Joyce El-Khoury ('08) sings Musetta with Bayerische Staatsoper (December 30, January 3 & 5, 2016).

Bryan Hymel ('08) sings Rodolfo with The Metropolitan Opera in January and is joined by Ailyn Pérez ('06) singing Musetta in April, 2016. 

It's never our intention to omit an upcoming alumni performance - if you notice something missing, please contact us at [email protected]

Richard A. Doran is Director of Marketing at AVA, having worked previously for The Chamber Orchestra of Philadelphia, Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Electric Factory Concerts. 

AVAbout the Opera - La bohème

“La più divina delle poesie è quella, amico, che c'insegna amare!”
(“The highest purpose of poetry is to teach us to love!”)
- La bohème, Giacomo Puccini

What is La bohème?

An opera in four acts composed by Giacomo Puccini. The opera premiered on February 1, 1896 in Turin, Italy. It is one of the most frequently performed and widely loved operas in the world.

AVA's first production of La bohème was in the 1962-63 season and it has been performed here nine times including roughly every five years since 1990. See below for information on some past AVA productions and some recent appearances by AVA alumni on stages around the world.

Meaning:

“La bohème” translates to “the bohemian.” Derived from the French, “bohemian” is referred to as a gypsy or someone socially unconventional who is often involved in the arts.

Composer:

Giacomo Puccini (full name: Giacomo Antonio Domenico Michele Secondo Maria Puccini). 

Composer Background:

Puccini (1858-1924) was an Italian composer whose work contributed largely to the traditional late-19^th-century romantic Italian opera. He has penned other important works such as Madama Butterfly (dramatic), Tosca (melodramatic), Gianni Schicchi (comedic) and Turandot (a queen who kills men for sport).

Opera Background:

The opera is based on the novel, La Vie de Bohème (Scenes of the bohemian) by Henri Murger written in 1851. The piece is a collection of interwoven stories that romanticize the bohemian life. Puccini wrote the music and the libretto, or lyrics, were written by Luigi Illica and Guiseppe Giacosa.

Setting:

The Latin Quarter of Paris in the 1840s. Sometimes a garret (top-floor, attic room) as well.

Characters:

Rodolfo, a poet

Mimì, a seamstress

Musetta, a singer

Marcello, a painter

Schaundard, a musician

Colline, a philosopher

Benoît, their landlord

Alcindoro, a state councillor

Parpignol, a toy vender

A customs Sergeant

Plot points:

1. Four bohemians live on insufficient costs but still manage to live life according to the bohemian 
truths: freedom, beauty, truth and love.

2. Rodolfo encounters Mimì and true love ensues (at first candlelight).

3. Mimì coughs violently (foreshadowing!).

4. Marcello and Musetta continue their on-again off-again romance, making them both crazy mad but eventually fall into each other’s arms.

5. It snows.

6. Rodolfo and Mimi part, his jealousy masking concern for her illness.

7. Spoiler Alert! Rodolfo and Mimì get back together in time for her to die peacefully in his arms.

Famous Hits from the Opera (click for YouTube videos):

“Che gelida manina” (“Your little hand is cold”) – Rodolfo’s tender aria upon meeting Mimì for the first time.

“Quando me’n vo” (also known as Musetta’s Waltz in Act II) – Musetta taunts a former lover flirtatiously.

“Donde lieta uscite” – Mimì’s final aria in which she reveals to Rodolfo that she is dying.

AVA and La bohème:

2005: Stephen Costello (’07) and Ailyn Pérez (’06) performed the roles of the two star-crossed lovers,Mimì and Rodolfo on stage at AVA. Seven years later, they reprised their roles for LA Opera. 

2010: Zach Borichevsky (’12) and Jan Cornelius (’11) sang the roles on AVA's Helen Corning Warden Theater stage. This past season, Mr. Borichevsky performed the role with the Finnish National Opera and Ms. Cornelius sang Musetta with Opera Birmingham (AL). Both Maria Aleida (’12) and Corinne Schaefer portrayed the role of Musetta while Steven LaBrie (’13) sang Marcello.

Mr. LaBrie will be performing the role of Schaunard in The Dallas Opera’s production of La bohème in late March 2015. Schaunard was sung by Norman Garrett and Ryan Kuster (’11). Colline was performed by both Scott Conner (’12) and Nicholas Masters (’11). Zachary Nelson (’13) sung the roles of Benoit/ Alcindoro and Viktor Antipenko (’12) portrayed the role of Parpignol.

Bryan Hymel (’08) and Michael Fabiano (’09) sang Rodolfo in the Zeffirelli production of La bohème at the Metropolitan Opera.

Last November, Eglise Guttierrez ('04), Burak Bilgili ('04), and current fourth-year Resident Artist William Davenport were featured in La bohème with Opera Naples (Florida).

Also last seasons, Corinne Winters ('11), Musa Ngqungwana ('14), Steven LaBrie ('13),and Christian Bowers ('13) sang La bohème with Washington National Opera.

Modern-day adaptations:

Moulin Rouge! directed by Baz Luhrmann, 2001

RENT! Jonathan Larson, 1996

La bohème on Broadway directed by Baz Luhrmann, 2002 featuring AVA alumni James Valenti, Jesus Garcia and Rebecca Garcia.

Breathe – Umphefumlo directed by Dornford-May and Pauline Malefane. This contemporary version of Puccini’s opera is set in South Africa. The score of the film will be played by an orchestra of marimbas and steel pans.

 

Samantha van Adelsberg is a Los Angeles native working in AVA's marketing department and managing the AVA Young Professionals group. Samantha holds two degrees from Binghamton University in English and Vocal Performance and is an active rock vocalist in the Philadelphia music scene.

 

Opera in Athletics

This evening, AVA alumna, Kansas City native and celebrated mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato will perform the National Anthem during Game 7 of the World Series. DiDonato was selected by Major League Baseball to sing after an online voting campaign #letjoycesing went viral. The campaign followed an online poll on kansascity.com that Ms. DiDonato overwhelmingly won before MLB selected Trisha Yearwood and Phillip Phillips to sing the anthem before Games 1 and 2 in Kansas City.

This is certainly not the first time opera has entered the world of athletics. Opera has had a significant impact in sports, and some of the best performers in the world have offered their talents on the field.

 

This past year alone, three massive sporting events featured opera singers as some of the main stars.

Four-time Grammy award winner Renee Flemming performed a highly acclaimed National Anthem at the 2014 Super Bowl.

Placido Domingo also performed the National Anthem during the Dodgers’ Home Opener in 2011, as well as holding a performance during this year’s World Cup in Brazil. 

And Russian soprano Anna Netrebko performed a stunning rendition of the Olympic Anthem at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi.

Some opera singers have even become an integral part of a sports team. Baltimore native, AVA alumnus  and ‘America’s’ tenor Richard Troxell frequently performs the National Anthem for his beloved  Orioles, most recently during the American League Championship Series.

And of course, Philadelphia icon Kate Smith, the lucky charm of our hometown Philadelphia Flyers, continues to inspire hockey fans in Philadelphia with her rendition of “God Bless America ".

Smith's rendition of "God Bless America" is also played during the 7th-inning stretch of New York Yankees home games.

The Yankees also had a longtime association with another opera singer, Metropolitan Opera baritone Robert Merrill sang the opening day anthem for the team for over 30 years. Here he is before Game 3 of the 1976 World Series.

These operatic performances have captivated and moved sport’s audiences, and will continue to do so for years to come.

Written by AVA intern Camille Mola

Camille Mola is a Delaware County native and a recent Penn State University graduate, where she studied public relations. There, she was a member of the Delta Gamma sorority and was involved with the Penn State Dance Marathon (THON). She is excited to intern with AVA this season and to expand her love and knowledge of music. 

Pass the cranberry...

It might be a little early for an American Thanksgiving, but who cares!

Started as a tradition while a Resident Artist at AVA, Angela Meade had thrown a Thanksgiving dinner at her abode for all her friends at AVA. We missed it last year while she was living in New York City, but since she has moved back to Philadelphia with her friend John Myers we all get to do Thanksgiving together again!

Angela is no slouch when it comes to cooking, she’s adventurous and also has a way with baking. If you ever had one of her Mystery Bars for dessert, you know what I mean. She had some help in the kitchen with post-cook preparations from alumus Luis Ledesma and AVA staffer José Meléndez.

This was a fun gathering of Resident Artists, music and admin staff, alumni and AVA lovers. Miss Meade did most of the cooking but everyone came bearing gifts from wine and pottery to bacon bourbon chocolate chip cookies. I was lucky to snag a bit of Angela's seven-pound-mac-and-cheese to take home with me, along with two mystery bars. The rest of the desserts were ‘donated’ to AVA on Monday (and, yes, they were all gone by the end of the day.)

 I asked Angela how the heck did she have time to do all of this and get ready for a sold out concert at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC on November 10th, as well as singing a new role in Beatrice di Tenda by Bellini with The Collegiate Chorale at in New York City on December 5th …and she just giggled.

Spills happen, and this time we had a diva here to help clean up. Recent grad Michelle Johnson had no problems offering her services in helping out after a great meal.

When giving my thanks on this holiday, I am so grateful to have such wonderful friends from the AVA family in Philadelphia!

 
     

Good for the eyes and ears...

We all love seeing the AVA alums and resident artists live on the stage, but second best can be a CD or DVD of one of their performances. Sit back, relax, make popcorn, pop open some champagne and give your  eyes and ears a treat with these selections!

Indra Thomas is the new girl on the CD block with her first ever solo recording called Great Day, Indra Thomas sings Spirituals. I have known about this for some months and have been waiting, like an expectant AVA lover, to hear it.

Tenor Noah Stewart is really making a name for himself on four continents as well as on CD! His CD called Noah is one of the fastest selling CDs in the UK. He’s been crossing the globe with productions and concerts in Great Britain, South Africa, Australia and the USA. Recent productions from this past summer includes Radames in Aida at The Glimmerglass Festival, with recent alumna Michelle Johnson.

Eglise Gutiérrez has been dividing her time between the stage, being a mom to Lucia and wife to AVA alumus and bass Burak Bilgili. You can find her on TWO DVD’s in the stores and online. Her newest DVD release is shared with AVA mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato in their production of Cendrillion (Massenet) from the Royal Opera House in London. Her production of La Sonnambula (Bellini) from Cagliari, Italy was released in 2011. And don’t forget her recording of Donizetti’s  Linda di Chamounix  with AVA tenor Stephen Costello from the Royal Opera House in London.

Joyce DiDonato is hot on the DVD circuit as well with new releases. Her newest DVDs are from the Metropolitan Opera’s production of The Enchanted Island, and Rossini’s Le Comte Ory, both of which were HD Live movie productions.

Recent alumna Maria Aleida’s first DVD is of Rossini’s Aureliano in Palmira with the Orchestra Internazionale D’italia with recently released through Arkiv Music. 

Keep a look out for another rarity on CD shortly. Alumna Joyce El-Khoury recently performed and recorded Donizetti’s opera Belisario for Opera Rara with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Maestro Mark Elder. This began life as a concert at the Barbican Centre in London.

 

Milestones that make you feel good...

Once you enter the doors of AVA as a resident artist you become a member of our large, musical family. As in most families great milestones do happen, and here are a few that make us proud.

On Memorial Day weekend the nuptials of Michelle Johnson to Brian K. Major was the biggest event in Houston, well at least for AVA! Michelle and Brian met each other while students at Boston University Opera Institute and have been together ever since. The wedding brought in people all over the US, including many of the AVA family. Alum Cynthia Cook was a bridesmaid, Val Starr, our Dean of Students and her husband Dennis were at the wedding. Her gift to the bride was her bridal veil. Others from AVA who attended included board member Randy Apgar and his partner Allen Black, resident artist Zach Nelson, alum Nicholas Masters, and AVA patron Sheila Kessler.

In Philadelphia last week, there was a new addition to the AVA family. Baritone Jason Switzer (AVA 05) and his lovely wife, Lettie, gave birth to their first child, Lealah.  Jason writes on Facebook, “I welcomed the newest addition to the Switzer family on June 4th. She's gorgeous like her mother.” Only question left – is she a soprano or a mezzo-soprano?

Summer is the time for weddings, and on July 28th AVA alumna Jessica Julin (AVA 09) will marry her beloved Victor White in Maryland. After graduation from AVA, Jessica and Victor moved to Annapolis where they reside. I’m sure there will be an AVA presence there, so as they say, more to come. Jessica has just signed with Fletcher Artist Management, so look for lots of singing in her future.

One milestone which has a national tie to it is the one the one that bass Burak Bilgili (AVA04) received from his home country of Turkey. This year Burak received The Turkish Male Opera Singer of the Year Award from the Donizetti Classical Music Awards in Istanbul. Unfortunately he was not able to attend the awards ceremony since he was in the middle of the run of Nabucco for the Washington National Opera.

 

Where there is one, you will find many...

With the summer opera festivals upon us, many of you want more "bang for the buck", meaning the possibility of seeing more than one AVA alum or resident artist in the same location.

Here’s a quick rundown on where you’ll find a crop of AVA’ers!

For more information go to the AVA website and see the great date-by-date listings which
Amanda DeMarco put togther for you.

Des Moines Metro Opera
Can’t miss Eugene Onegin with Jan Cornelius, Cody Austin and Jane Shaulis
Stay the weekend and hear Zulimar López-Hernández as Zerlina in Don Giovanni,
and Joyce El-Khoury and John Viscardi in La Rondine.

Cincinnati Opera
For two nights only, La traviata with Ailyn Pérez and Stephen Costello

Wolf Trap Opera , Vienna, VA
Don Giovanni with Olivia Vote as Donna Elvira, and Ryan Kuster sharing the roles of Don Giovanni and Leporello (depending on what day you see the production).
Also there is soprano Corinne Winters, fresh from St. Louis Opera, to sing Anne Trulove in The Rake's Progress.

Opera Company of Middlebury, VT
AVA alums Colleen Daly and Branch Fields will sing in the rarely hear Thäis.

Glimmerglass Festival, Cooperstown, NY
Can’t miss Michelle Johnson making her debut as Aida, along with AVA alum Noah Stewart as Radames. Chrystal E. Williams will also be singing in Lost in the Stars.

Santa Fe Opera, New Mexico
A slew of AVA’ers will be in New Mexico for the season. Soprano Sydney Mancasola, mezzo Cynthia Cook, tenor Zach Borichevsky (singing the role of Matteoin Arabella), baritones Christian Bowers, Zachary Nelson,  and bass-baritone Christopher Remmel,  – now that’s a full house!

Caramoor Music Festival, New York
For one night only Eglise Gutiérrez and Burak Bilgili in I Capuleti i Montecchi.

Opera at Florham will have both soprano Chloé Moore and tenor Luigi Boccia singing the lovers in their production of L'elisir d'amore.

Angela Meade is doing triple duty with triple the alums!
Astoria Festival, Portland, OR with Ruth Ann Swenson in a concert version of Norma.
Blossom Summer Festival, Cleveland, OH with Michael Fabiano in concert.
Philadelphia Orchestra at Saratoga Springs, New York with Bryan Hymel in concert.

Want to stay close to Philadelphia and South Jersey?
Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Philadelphia Orchestra at the Mann Center with
Othalie Graham, Margaret Mezzacappa, Zach Borichevsky and Luis Ledesma.
Also hear Margaret as Azucena in Il Travatore at Opera New Jersey.

Get ready to travel!

And I was there... (part two)

Along with attending the Zachary Competition in Los Angeles, I was lucky enough to see several other AVA alums. I spent Friday evening with Kimberly Henshaw (AVA 06) and got to explore some of downtown LA with her close to the Disney Concert Hall. (pictured me and Kimberly Henshaw)

As I mentioned in a previous blog, I was able to see Alex Lawrence (AVA 11) and his beautiful fiancée Carin Gilfry, who were both covering roles in LA Philharmonic’s production of Don Giovanni. (pictured - Carin Gilfry and Alex Lawrence)

Sunday night included dinner with Ailyn Pérez, Stephen Costello, Bill Schuman, Thor Eckert and others, after the matinée performance of La bohème at LA Opera (which was sold out and also nationally broadcast).  Joining us at dinner, to my surprise, was American opera composer Jake Heggie. He has created many operatic roles for AVA alums including Joyce DiDonato and John Packard in Dead Man Walking, and Stephen Costello in his recently performed Moby Dick.

On my last night in Los Angeles, I was honored to give a lecture/video presentation to the Friends of Operetta in the Santa Monica area. Operetta has been my love for the past decade, and I have used many AVA singers in my concerts. I was happy to have the ability to show video clips of such AVA singers as Angela Meade, Bryan Hymel, Steven LaBrie, Ariya Sawdivong, Markus Beam, Evelyn Pollock, Eric Dubin and Kimberly Henshaw.

Was it a great trip?You bet!
Would I go back? Sure, only if I don’t have to drive the 405 Freeway!

And I was there... (part one)

As you know from the previous blog, I was planning to go to Los Angeles to attend many AVA related events in May. It was a busy week and most enjoyable seeing the resident artists and alums doing what they do best – sing!

Most of my time was spent with the Loren L. Zachary Vocal Competition events. Starting on Thursday evening, I was honored to be the host of a reception for stage director Tito Capobianco, who spoke and worked with the ten finalists from the competition. The insight he gave was invaluable to the young singers. He also worked with four of them on their arias with action tips, including AVA baritone Wes Mason. (pictured left to right - Viktor Antipenko, Tito Capobianco, Olivia Moore, Wes Mason, Chloe Moore, Scott Conner, Mackie MacLean, Nedra Zachery, Peter Huber)

Saturday was the actual competition. I had great company in the audience, including AVA Board Chairman, Mackie MacLean, AVA faculty members Bill Schuman and Thor Eckert, and AVA alums Ailyn Pérez, Stephen Costello and Alex Lawrence. All the singers did a wonderful job and AVA singers took the top prizes of first (Scott Conner, bass), second (Olivia Vote, mezzo-soprano), and third (Chloé Moore, soprano). (pictured left to right - Alex Lawrence, Scott Conner, Olivia Vote, Chloe Moore)

I attended the Judges Dinner that evening as Nedra Zahary’s guest. She is the founder  of this forty year old vocal competition. I had the pleasure of meeting so many wonderful people during the event who knew of the work AVA has been doing. In the program for the competition was a list of the past winners, and I counted twenty-four of them from AVA. (pictured - Me and Nedra Zachary)

The rest of the trip was filled with musical and AVA related adventures, but that’s for another blog!