Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Eric Ferring Wins Sullivan Grant

Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist Eric Ferring was named a winner of the prestigious 2017 William Matheus Sullivan FoundationA. Singer Auditions earlier this week, where he earned a Career Development Grant.

This is the third consecutive year a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist has won an award at the exclusive competition. Soprano Claudia Rosenthal won a Sullivan Award in 2016, and baritone Brian Vu did in 2015.

"We are delighted for Eric", said Pittsburgh Opera General Director Christopher Hahn. "He continues to blossom and grow with each performance. It's no surprise he's a fan-favorite here in Pittsburgh."

Mr. Ferring was named one of Pittsburgh's "Who's Next in Music" by The Incline in October, where he was on a vibrant list of "21 young leaders defining the new Pittsburgh sound."

During Pittsburgh Opera's 2016-17 season, in his first year as a Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist, Mr. Ferring he performed as Gastone in La traviata, the Fourth Jew in Salome, and Señor Alcalde in the world premiere of The Summer King- the Josh Gibson Story. He received critical praise for "making the most" of his "brief opportunities."

This season, as a second-year Resident Artist, Mr. Ferring is being showcased in more prominent roles. The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette said his "bright, penetrating tenor was a standout as Scarpia's henchman Spoletta" in Tosca last month. Pittsburgh In The Roundraved that his performance as both Don Basilio and Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro"took on a prominence that was out of the ordinary."

Still to come this season are roles as Ricky in The Long Walk, the Protagonist (and sole singer) in the world premiere of Ashes & Snow, Flask in Moby-Dick, and Nemorino in the student matinee of The Elixir of Love.

The Sullivan Foundation "was established through the bequest of a prominent lawyer, William Matheus Sullivan, to identify talented young singers and help them develop professional careers through a unique program combining major awards with five years of additional support."