Lana Lanzanas, a high school senior from Troy Athens High School in Troy, Michigan is the $1000 First Prize Winner of the 32nd annual Italian Songs and Arias Vocal Competition for Michigan High School Students.
The Concert of the Finalists of this always exciting event, sponsored by the Verdi Opera Theatre of Michigan, in collaboration with the Italian American Club of Livonia Charitable Foundation, the Dante Alighieri Society of Michigan, the Italian American Cultural Society, the Detroit Opera, and the Italian Consulate of Italy in Detroit, was held on May 3, at the Italian American Cultural Society in front of an appreciative audience that rewarded each of the talented young finalists with enthusiastic applause.
The ten finalists, chosen from participants who entered the competition from schools throughout the state, were required to sing from memory, to piano accompaniment, their two Italian art songs or opera arias originally submitted to enter the contest. The works performed at the concert included some of the most beautiful art songs and opera arias by Bellini, Carissimi, Donaudy, Giordani, Legrenzi, Mozart, Perti, Rosa, Scarlatti, and Tosti.
The First Prize winner, Lana Lanzanas, captivated the audience with her stage presence, lovely sound and engaging expression, singing Stefano Donaudy's “ O Del Mio Amato Ben” and Vincenzo Bellini’s charming art song “La Farfalletta”.
All the finalists showed noteworthy musical training and their love of singing which made for a very enjoyable musical afternoon for the audience and a challenging task for the three distinguished judges: George Shirley, Professor Emeritus at the University of Michigan School of Music who, during his long and trailblazing career as performer, teacher and lecturer, has sung more than 80 roles at major opera theatres around the world and also was presented with the National Medal of Arts awarded annually to those who have “demonstrated a lifetime of creative excellence”; Suzanne Mallare Acton who served as Assistant Music Director and Chorus Master of the Detroit Opera for more than 200 productions; and Louise Toppin who has received acclaim for her operatic, orchestral and oratorio performances worldwide and is currently Professor of Voice at the University of Michigan.
Paula CasIllas-Lopez of Ann Arbor High School was awarded the Second Prize of $500. Violet Procunier of Oxford Virtual Academy received the $300 Third Prize. The other seven finalists, who were considered of equally high merit, each received $200. They were: Anika Peterson, Lauren Nichols, and Alyssa Wares from Traverse City Central High School; Jonathan Kirby, Kate Zuisderma, and Luke Shumaker from Traverse City West High School; and Reed Koesel from First Presbyterian Church, Royal Oak.
In addition, two special $500 Awards for Continuing Music Education (ACME) were presented, one for a high school music student and one for an adult singer. Funding for these awards was provided by Robert DiGovanni and Judith Steeh. The recipients of these awards, who submitted information about their continuing studies, were Reed Koesel from First Presbyterian Church in Royal Oak and Abigail Eagan, a voice performance major at the University of Michigan.
