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The Opera Hall of Fame inductees, top row, left to right: Alessandro Rossi Lemeni Makedon, son of honoree Virginia Zeani (not present), Camille LaBarre, Matthew Epstein, Charles MacKay, David Gockley, Gordon Getty, Dawn Upshaw, and Patricia K. Beggs. Bottom row, left to right: George Shirley, Marlena Malas, Simon Estes, Reri Grist, and Roma Wittcoff (photo: Danny Bristoll)
A celebration delayed by COVID for nearly three years took place on October 21 when OPERA America hosted “OPERA America Salutes,” an evening honoring the inaugural inductees to the Opera Hall of Fame and recipients of the National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards.
At a private club in New York City, OPERA America inducted 14 individuals nominated by the public into the newly created Opera Hall in Fame in recognition of their impact on the North American opera field. They were joined by 13 winners of the annual National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards, which honor opera company trustees for their exceptional governance.
Mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves and OPERA America President/CEO Marc A. Scorca co-hosted the event, and two members of the Metropolitan Opera’s Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, soprano Amanda Batista and tenor Matthew Cairns, also performed for guests.
“We’re thrilled to gather once again to celebrate some of the most distinguished members of the North American opera community,” said Scorca. “These artists, administrators, trustees, and advocates have shaped the landscape of opera across the United States and Canada.”
“OPERA America Salutes” marked the conclusion of OPERA America’s extended 50th anniversary celebration, which launched in fall 2019 and was dedicated to showcasing the legacy and progress of the American opera industry over the last half-century.
2020 Trustee Recognition Award honorees, clockwise from top left: Chris Murray, Robert Ellis, Phil Meyer, Linda Koehn, Elba Haid, and Anita Murray (photo: Danny Bristoll)
2022 Trustee Recognition Award honorees, clockwise from top left: John Fitzgerald, Ranney Mize, Carey Newman (Ha-yalth-kingeme), Carol F. Henry (board chair), Susan G. Marineau, Arlene Ferebee, and Carol Lazier (committee chair of Trustee Awards) (photo: Danny Bristoll)
Reri Grist and Harolyn Blackwell (photo: Danny Bristoll)
Shariq Yosufzai, Pamela Zell Rigg, Carol Lazier, and Brian James (photo: Danny Bristoll)
Joyce DiDonato and Denyce Graves (photo: Danny Bristoll)
Patricia K. Beggs (photo: Danny Bristoll)
Susan Graham and Marlena Malas (photo: Danny Bristoll)
The Honorees
Opera Hall of Fame
2021
Patricia K. Beggs, general director
Grace Bumbry, soprano/teacher
Matthew Epstein, impresario and artistic director
Simon Estes, bass-baritone and teacher
Gordon Getty, composer and philanthropist
David Gockley, general director
Camille LaBarre, trustee and philanthropist
George Shirley, tenor and teacher
Dawn Upshaw, soprano and teacher
Roma Wittcoff, trustee and philanthropist
2022
Reri Grist, soprano and teacher
Charles MacKay, general director
Marlena Malas, voice teacher
Virginia Zeani, soprano and teacher
National Opera Trustee Recognition Awards
2020
Robert Ellis, San Francisco Opera
Elba Haid, Manitoba Opera
Linda Koehn, Des Moines Metro Opera
Phil Meyer, Pacific Opera Project
Chris and Anita Murray, Opera Las Vegas
Bernt von Ohlen, Minnesota Opera
2022
Gary Casagrande, MassOpera
Arlene Ferebee, Opera Carolina
John Fitzgerald, IN Series
Susan G. Marineau, The Santa Fe Opera
Ranney Mize, New Orleans Opera
Carey Newman (Ha-yalth-kingeme), Pacific Opera Victoria
Support for OPERA America’s 50th Anniversary initiatives was provided by Bank of America, as well as the Arthur F. and Alice E. Adams Charitable Foundation, Theodore H. Barth Foundation, Aaron Copland Fund for Music, and Amphion Foundation.
