ÿþ<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.01 Transitional//EN"> <HTML> <HEAD> <TITLE>The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation - 2009 Winners Biography</TITLE> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=Shift_JIS"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Style-Type" content="text/css"> <meta http-equiv="Content-Script-Type" content="text/javascript"> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" media="all" href="../main.css"> <script type="text/javascript" src="../rollover.js"></script> </HEAD> <BODY> <div align="center"> <TABLE border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="700" bgcolor="#FFFFFF"> <!-- Header Starts Here --> <TR><TD align="center" height="" bgcolor="#ffffff"><a name="top"><img src="../img/logo.gif" border="0"></a></TD></TR> <TR><TD align="center"> <TABLE border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="660"> <TR><TD align="center"><hr size="1" color="#9e0b0f" noshade></TD></TR> </TABLE> </TD></TR> <!-- Header Ends Here --> <TR><TD height="15"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!-- Contents Starts Here --> <TR><TD align="center"> <TABLE border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="660"> <!-- Page Title Starts Here --> <TR><TD align="center" valign="top" width="" height=""><font color="#003471" size="5" class="lll"> 2009 International Vocal Competition<br> Winners Biography</TD></TR> <!-- Page Title Ends Here --> <TR><TD align="center" height="10"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR><TD align="center" valign="top" width="" height=""><font size="3" class="lm"><a href="2009.html">Click here for winners list</a></TD></TR> <TR><TD align="center" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!-- Bio Starts Here --> <TR><TD align="center" valign="top" width="660"> <TABLE border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="600"> <!-- 1st Prize--> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>First Prize</b></font></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-1.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>TAYLOR F. STAYTON, Tenor</b> is studying at the Academy of Vocal Arts in Philadelphia. He has appeared with Southern Ohio Light Opera and Prelude to Performance in New York. He was Tenor soloist for the Ocean City Pops in 2008. He won a Third Prize in May 2009 in Los Angeles for The Loren L. Zachary Society for the Performing Arts.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center"><hr size="1" width="50%" color="#003471" noshade></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!--2nd Prize--> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>Second Prize</b></font></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-2.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>MARJORIE OWENS, Soprano</b> has begun an International Career in Opera appearing at the Metropolitan Opera, 2009 season. She has appeared with the Lyric Opera of Chicago, Wolf Trap Opera, Houston Grand Opera and has won many prestigious international vocal competitions.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center"><hr size="1" width="50%" color="#003471" noshade></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!--3rd Prize--> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>Third Prize</b></font></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-3.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>NADINE SIERRA, Soprano</b> is a winner of the Metropolitan National Council Competition Grand Finals in New York 2009. She is the youngest winner of The Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation. She is studying at Mannes College of Music and has appeared with The Marilyn Horne Foundation on Wings of Song Recitals.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center"><hr size="1" width="50%" color="#003471" noshade></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!--4th Prize--> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>Fourth Prize</b></font></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-4.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>ISSACHAH SAVAGE, Tenor</b> studied at the Rome School of Music at the Catholic University of America and has appeared with the Opera Company of Philadelphia, Opera North in Philadelphia and has received many awards from prestigious international vocal competitions.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center"><hr size="1" width="50%" color="#003471" noshade></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!--5th Prize--> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>Fifth Prize</b></font></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-5.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>MICHAEL ANTHONY MCGEE, Baritone</b> has been a member of the Seattle Opera Young Artist Program. He has appeared with Opera Orchestra of New York and Santa Fe Opera. He was a member of the Merola Opera Program in California. He is a winner of many prestigious International Vocal Competitions including First Place in The Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center"><hr size="1" width="50%" color="#003471" noshade></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!--6th Prize--> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>Sixth Prize</b></font></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-6.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>EDWARD PARKS, Baritone</b> is a member of the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program and will appear in the Met Opera production of The Barber of Seville. He also appeared in Concert with the Orchestra Verdi in Milan, Italy and was a finals winner of the Metropolitan Opera International Council Auditions in 2008.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center"><hr size="1" width="50%" color="#003471" noshade></TD></TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" height="5"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <!--Grant Winners--> <TR><TD colspan="2" align="center" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>Grant Winners</b></font></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-7.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>KERI ALKEMA</b> has just changed from a Mezzo Soprano to <b>Soprano</b>. She has appeared at the Metropolitan Opera in 2009, the New York City Opera, the Washington National Opera, Chautauqua Opera, Teatro Communale in Treviso, and Soloist with The Marilyn Horne Foundation Concert Series. She was a winner of The George London, Richard Tucker and The Gerda Lissner Foundation Vocal Competition. </font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-8.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>LUIGI BOCCIA, Tenor</b> spent most of his earlier life in Italy. He studied musicology at the University of Pavia with renowned tenor, Gianni Raimondi, a star of La Scala and the metropolitan Opera. In the United States he has appeared in Don Giovanni, Gianni Schicchi, and Il Barbiere di Seviglia. He has received an award from The Giulio Gari Foundation and a First Prize from the 2008 Gerda Lissner Foundation competition.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-9.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>EVAN BOYER, Bass</b> is currently pursuing a Master of Music in Opera from Curtis Institute of Music. He received a Bachelor of Music from Northwestern University. Boyer appeared at the Tanglewood Music Center in 2008 performing in Eugen Onegin. He was awarded the Grand Prize at the Chicago Bel Canto Foundation competition in 2007. He also received awards from The Giulio Gari Foundation and the American Opera Society.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-10.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>DEANNA BREIWICK, Soprano</b> 22 years of age is one of our youngest winners. She is studying at Mannes College of Music and has also studied at the International Vocal Arts Institutions in Puerto Rico, Montreal and Germany and was a Grant winner for The Giulio Gari Foundation Vocal Competition.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-11.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>ADAM DIEGEL, Tenor</b> is a member the New York City Opera and has appeared at the Madison Opera as Rodolfo in La Boheme. Appeared at Szeged National Opera in Hungary as Cavaradossi in Tosca and in May he will sing Don Jose for the Florida Grand Opera.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-12.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>RACHELE GILMORE, Soprano</b> has appeared with Opera Orchestra of New York, Deutsche Opera am Rhein, Indianapolis Opera, Orlando Opera, Glimmerglass Opera, Florida Grand Opera and was First Place Winner-The Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition. </font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-13.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>SHARLEEN JOYNT, Soprano</b> has appeared with the International Vocal Arts Institute in Tel Aviv, Israel and concerts in Toronto, Canada. She has also been part of the Daniel Ferro Vocal Program in Tuscany, Italy. She has won awards from the Liederkranz Vocal Competition, The George London and Palm Beach Vocal Competitions.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-14.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>KELLY MARKGRAF, Baritone</b> has appeared with Pittsburgh Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Minnesota Opera, Opera Theatre of St. Louis. He has appeared at Carnegie Hall in the opening night Gala of the San Francisco Symphony. He received an outstanding apprentice Award from the Santa Fe Opera.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-15.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>JEANETTE VECCHIONE, Soprano</b> has appeared with the Juilliard Opera Theater, Opera Theater of St. Louis, and Chautauqua Opera. She will be singing at the Vienna State Opera in 2010. She is a First Place winner for the Mario Lanza competition in Philadelphia and won a First Place at The Gerda Lissner Vocal Competition.</font></TD> </TR> <TR><TD colspan="2" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> <TR> <TD align="left" valign="top" width="100"><img src="../img/winners09-16.jpg"></TD> <TD align="left" valign="top" width=""><font color="#000000" size="3" class="lm"><b>DAVID WON, Baritone</b> a recent graduate of the Metropolitan Opera s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program. Mr. Won made his debut as Gregorio in a new production of Romeo and Juliette starring Natalie Dessay. The following season, he reprised his role opposite to Ann Netrebko and Roberto Alagna, which was broadcasted in HD in movie theatres around the world. In addition, he appeared as Prince Yamadori in Anthony Minghella s new production of Madame Butterfly under the baton of Maestro James Levine. </font></TD> </TR> </TABLE> </TD></TR> <!-- Winner Bio Ends Here --> <TR><TD align="center" height="20"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> </TABLE> </TD></TR> <!-- Contents Ends Here --> <!-- Footer Starts Here --> <TR><TD align="center"> <TABLE border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="660"> <TR><TD align="center"><hr size="1" color="#9e0b0f" noshade></TD></TR> </TABLE> </TD></TR> <TR><TD align="center"> <TABLE border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" width="660"> <TR><TD align="center"><img src="../img/copyright.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> </TABLE> </TD></TR> <TR><TD align="center" height="25"><img src="../img/clear.gif" border="0"></TD></TR> </TABLE> </div> </BODY> </HTML>