St. Petersburg Opera Chooses OPERA IDOL, 11/30

The fifth St. Petersburg Opera "Opera Idol" will be chosen November 30, 2012 at a competition beginning at 7:30 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church, 701 Beach Dr., St. Petersburg.  The reigning Opera Idol, soprano Vanessa Rodriguez, a recent graduate of University of South Florida, will relinquish her title, but not before singing as part of a quartet (also including Melissa Misener, Chris Romeo, and Rimas Karnavicius, all previous contestants.)   

Twelve singers who have completed a six week session of master classes entitled Music in Motion will participate.  Each singer will sing one aria and five finalists will be selected by audience vote.  The five finalists will then compete with a second aria.  Following a second audience vote, one singer will become the Opera Idol.   

In the Music in Motion workshops,  singers are coached on musicality and interpretation by Maestro Mark Sforzini, artistic director of St. Petersburg Opera.   The classes are funded by the Florida Suncoast Opera Guild as part of their season education sponsorship of the opera company.    

Participating singers include USF students Robert Amer, Sarah Coit, Courtney Elvira, Gabriel Hernandez, Ricky Marenda, John Short, Dirck Van Clief, JoNathan Willis, and Mary Wyant.  Also included are Beth Dalton, Jacqueline Graham, and Aleksandra Ritums, all experienced chorus members.  Brent Douglas will provide piano accompaniment.  

Tickets are priced at $10 general admission, $5 for students with valid ID and are available on the opera company website,www.stpeteopera.org, by telephone at 727-823-2040, and at the door.