OPERA America and Yamaha Create Center of Gravity for Opera in NYC
New York, N.Y. OPERA America is the national service organization for opera, with 116 professional companies in 44 states in its U.S. membership and active partnerships with companies around the world. Two years ago, when OPERA America re-located to New York City, the hub of North America's classical music and opera world, it created Making Connections, a new artist professional development and networking program. Acquisition of a new Yamaha C1 conservatory grand piano was key to creating the program's 2007-2008 season and other offerings.
Marc A. Scorca, OPERA America president and CEO, says, "we've always wanted a piano for professional development, demonstrations of audition techniques, vocal techniques, coaching and, more than that, to offer an 'after hours' space for singers and librettists who wanted to run through new works. Last year, our first full season in New York, we were quite pleased with the initial reception for Making Connections. Now, with our new C1, we'll be able to transcend the abstract and actually show techniques."
Representatives from Herbert Barrett Management, Fashion Institute of Technology, American Opera Projects, American Lyric Theater, Metropolitan Opera, and several renowned conductors, stage directors and singers will share their expertise in the September through April series. Panel discussion topics such as "Getting The Most Out of Your Audition," "Fostering and Developing Big Voices," "Pushing the Boundaries Between Opera and Musical Theater" and "Career Paths for Opera Conductors" precede casual receptions to encourage networking among attendees.
"The NYC office allows a more robust relationship with others in the opera industry," Scorca adds. "There was a great need for a 'center of gravity' location. When people come to NYC for interviews or presentations, they use our facilities for meetings, design presentations, wireless connection, phone, fax and much more."
The Yamaha C1 also inspired another new OPERA America offering: salon evenings in their lounge. "We had already planned an exhibition series opening in October with a display of costume designs," says Scorca. "Now OPERA America will also add a salon series. This larger event program will enable us to increase our services to the opera community and help build a stronger relationship with our fellow opera lovers.
We had conducted research some time ago regarding the piano," he says. "Others had told us that Yamaha would be our best choice as to service, dependability and instrument quality. Patrons of ours put us in touch with Yamaha in California. We were eventually routed to Frank & Camille's, the Yamaha dealer for the N.Y. metro area. We are thrilled that we now have exactly what we knew we wanted a beautiful Yamaha piano!"
For more information, visit www.operaamerica.org or write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.
 A Yamaha C1 allows OPERA America to add live musical demonstrations to its many seminars for artists. |
Representatives from Herbert Barrett Management, Fashion Institute of Technology, American Opera Projects, American Lyric Theater, Metropolitan Opera, and several renowned conductors, stage directors and singers will share their expertise in the September through April series. Panel discussion topics such as "Getting The Most Out of Your Audition," "Fostering and Developing Big Voices," "Pushing the Boundaries Between Opera and Musical Theater" and "Career Paths for Opera Conductors" precede casual receptions to encourage networking among attendees.
"The NYC office allows a more robust relationship with others in the opera industry," Scorca adds. "There was a great need for a 'center of gravity' location. When people come to NYC for interviews or presentations, they use our facilities for meetings, design presentations, wireless connection, phone, fax and much more."
The Yamaha C1 also inspired another new OPERA America offering: salon evenings in their lounge. "We had already planned an exhibition series opening in October with a display of costume designs," says Scorca. "Now OPERA America will also add a salon series. This larger event program will enable us to increase our services to the opera community and help build a stronger relationship with our fellow opera lovers.
We had conducted research some time ago regarding the piano," he says. "Others had told us that Yamaha would be our best choice as to service, dependability and instrument quality. Patrons of ours put us in touch with Yamaha in California. We were eventually routed to Frank & Camille's, the Yamaha dealer for the N.Y. metro area. We are thrilled that we now have exactly what we knew we wanted a beautiful Yamaha piano!"
For more information, visit www.operaamerica.org or write Yamaha Corporation of America, Piano Division, P.O. Box 6600, Buena Park, CA 90622, telephone (714) 522-9011, or e-mail infostation@yamaha.com.