2006 Bravo! Award Winners Announced

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For Immediate Release
Contact: Patricia Kiernan Johnson; PKJohnson@operaamerica.org
www.operaamerica.org

April 17, 2006

2006 Bravo! Award Winners Announced

Three Corporations and Two Individuals to be Honored for Distinguished Service at Opera Conference 2006 along with Three Opera Companies for Advancing Opera in their Communities

New York , NY —OPERA America , the national service organization for opera, announces winners of the 2006 Bravo! Awards. Awarded annually, these honors recognize opera companies that build community awareness of opera via innovative projects, media organizations that demonstrate a strong commitment to promoting opera, and corporations that strengthen the field of opera through corporate philanthropy. Awards are also presented to outstanding educators and artists. Nominations for the awards were accepted from Professional Company Members of OPERA America , with winners chosen by an independent panel. Awards will be presented at the Bravo! Awards Breakfast on May 7 at Opera Conference 2006 in Seattle .

Marc A. Scorca, President and CEO of OPERA America stated, “The Bravo! honorees have all done exceptional work to promote understanding and appreciation of opera in their communities, demonstrating that opera in the 21 st century is a vital part of our contemporary culture. In opera today, the wide-spread use of projected titles, increased numbers of new operas, and reinterpretations of traditional works all make the opera-going experience an engaging theatrical experience for all audiences.”

Winners of the 2006 awards are:

Success Awards , for innovative audience development activities
- Nashville Opera
- Cincinnati Opera
Diversity Award , for expanding service to diverse communities
- Opera Company of Philandelphia
Spotlight on Opera Award , for outstanding media coverage of opera
- The Standard-Times of New Bedford , Massachusetts , nominated by Boston Lyric Opera
Business of the Year Awards , for exceptional support of opera
- Frontier Airlines, nominated by Opera Colorado
- Hospital Corporation of America , nominated by Nashville Opera
Educator of the Year Award , for outstanding efforts to bring opera to K-12 students
- Barbara Roddy, nominated by Opera Theatre of St. Louis
Artist Advocate Award , for acting as a spokesperson and advocate for opera in a community
- Amy Burton, nominated by Glimmerglass Opera

Details on each award follow, along with additional local press contacts. Judges for the 2006 Bravo! Awards were Greg McCaslin, Director of Programs for the Center for Arts Education, Joanne Cossa, Executive Director of the American Music Center, and Deborah Steinglass, Director of Development for Creative Arts Team, City University of New York.

For more information on Opera Conference 2006, visit the OPERA America website at www.operaamerica.org/conference or call OPERA America at 212-796-8620 x217.

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OPERA America leads and serves the entire opera community, supporting the creation, presentation and enjoyment of opera.

Artistic services help opera companies and creative and performing artists to improve the quality of productions and increase the creation and presentation of North American works.
Information, technical and administrative services to opera companies reflect the need for strengthened leadership among staff, trustees and volunteers.
Education, audience development and community services are designed to enhance all forms of opera appreciation.

Founded in 1970, OPERA America’s worldwide membership network includes nearly 200 Company Members, 300 Associate and Business Members, 2,000 Individual Members and 13,000 subscribers to the association’s electronic news service.

OPERA America’s long tradition of supporting and nurturing the creation and development of new works led to the formation of The Opera Fund, a growing endowment which allows OPERA America to make a direct impact on the ongoing creation and presentation of new opera and music-theater works. Since its inception, OPERA America has made grants of more than $10.5 million to assist companies with the expenses associated with the creation and development of new works.