NEA Announces Presenters/Performers for Opera Honors Ceremony, 10/22

The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) announces the guest presenters and performers for the 2010 NEA Opera Honors awards ceremony and concert on Friday, October 22, at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center Opera House, Washington, D.C. This year's honorees-soprano Martina Arroyo, general director David DiChiera, composer Philip Glass and music director Eve Queler-are being acknowledged for their exceptional contributions to opera in America.
 
The free awards ceremony and concert will feature appearances by Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg and NEA Senior Deputy Chairman Joan Shigekawa. Musical tributes will be given by some of the world's premier opera artists, including tenor Richard Croft, soprano Leah Partridge, baritone Marian Pop and mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick. These artists will be joined by the Washington National Opera Orchestra under the baton of conductor Philippe Auguin. 
 
Award presenters include jazz musician and composer Paquito D'Rivera for Ms. Arroyo, Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University Executive Director Brett Batterson for Dr. DiChiera, the Metropolitan Opera's Artistic Manager Sarah Billinghurst for Mr. Glass, and opera impresario Ira Siff for Ms. Queler. Video tributes featuring testimonials from luminaries of the opera world will round out the evening. 
 
Prior to the awards ceremony and concert, audience members are invited to a moderated conversation with the honorees, beginning at 6:15 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House. Tickets for the awards ceremony and concert will grant admission to the Opera House for the conversation.
 
TICKETING INFORMATION: Free tickets for the NEA Opera Honors awards ceremony and concert are available to the general public and are distributed on a first-come, first-served basis. Due to unprecedented demand, reserved tickets are no longer available. Patrons who would like to reserve stand-by passes may sign up in advance. Individuals who reserve stand-by passes will be contacted as additional reserved seating becomes available. Stand-by passes may be secured online at www.dc-opera.org, by phone at 202.295.2400 or toll free at 800.US.OPERA, or at Washington National Opera's Box Office: 2600 Virginia Avenue NW, Suite 301, Washington, D.C. 

For further information/downloadable photos:  www.neaoperahonors.org

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