Enjoy a special mother’s day brunch buffet (noon seating) at Hotel Indigo, followed by a 2:00 p.m. matinee performance of The Golden Age of Operetta at the Historic Asolo Theater.

Enjoy both for $55 per person (not including tax and gratuity).

Space is limited, call now to reserve your seats.  Call (941) 306-1202.

The Golden Age of Operetta

Featuring an ensemble of outstanding singers led by soprano Maria D’amato (pictured below right), and baritone Dimitrie Lazich (pictured above right) …and the best songs by Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg, Franz Lehár, Rudolph Friml and more…

The operetta is a precursor of the modern musical theatre or the “musical”. In the early decades of the 20th century, the operetta continued to exist alongside the newer musical, with each influencing the other. Operetta’s frequently whimsical plots combined with the soaring melodies and gorgeous harmonies have kept interest in operetta high for more than a hundred years, and among the most popular of our concert performances.

On Saturday, April 6 Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota hosted the 2013 Competition for Voice finals at the First United Methodist Church in Sarasota, FL.  12 Semi-finalists competed for over $22,000 in awards.  The competition was coordinated by Joy McIntyre, a leading soprano with major opera houses in Europe, such as Munich, Vienna, Salzburg, Rome, Berlin, Hamburg, Düsseldorf, Geneva, Barcelona and Copenhagen.

Pictured above (from left): Brian Rodriguez, Virginia Mims, Monica Gonzalez, Ryne Cherry, Samina Aslam and Kyle Gee.

Scholarship Level – (ages 16-20)

1^st Place Jerry & Lee Dougherty Ross Award:
Virginia Mims
Age 16. From West Palm Beach, FL.
Scholarship Amount: $3,000
(Funded by Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Friends)

2^nd Place:
Monica Gonzales
Age 16. From Venice, FL.
Scholarship Amount: $2,500

3^rd Place:
Brian Rodriguez
Age 20. From Miami, FL.
Scholarship Amount: $2,000
(Given by Edith Winston, in loving memory of  Herb Winston)

Performance Level – (ages 21-25)

1^st Place Virginia B. Toulmin Award:
Kyle Gee
From Tarpon Springs, FL.
Award Amount: $6,000
(Funded by Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Friends)

2^nd Place:
Samina Aslam
Age 24. From Orlando, FL.
Award Amount: $5,000
(Funded by Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota Friends)

3^rd Place Mary Thienes-Schunemann Award:
Ryne Cherry
Age 25. From Niceville, FL.
Award Amount: $4,000
(Endowed by Dr. R. Lawrence Thienes)

The Donald Britt Award:

Six semi-finalists received awards in the amount of $175 through the Donald Britt Award Fund.  They are Lauren Elizabeth Davis from Ft. Myers; Allesandra Feliciano from Tampa; Lyudmilla Fuentes from Lakeland; Raul Escalona from Ft. Myers; Caitlin Ruddy from Gainseville; and Timothy Wilt from Seminole.  Donald Britt established this fund to help defray out-of-pocket costs of participating in the competition.

Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota would like to give a special thank you to all of this year’s judges.

Preliminary Round Judges: Sarah Arneson, Deborah Berioli, Alan Corey, Janice Edwards, John Fiorito, Leslie Guinn, Phyllis Lowitt and Sarita Roche.

Semi-Finals Judges: Phyllis Elhady Hoffman, David Walker and Kathleen Wilson.

Finals Judges: Warren Jones, Stephanie Sundine and Robert White.

About the Scholarship Fund:

With leadership gifts from Artist Series co-founders, Jerold and Lee Dougherty Ross and Virginia Toulmin, the fund was begun in 2002. In 2006 Virginia Toulmin made a generous gift to the organization which was increased by additional donations and pledges to the fund. Donations continue to be accepted to support this important endeavor.

One of the primary goals of the Artist Series Concerts of Sarasota is to provide support to promising young musicians. With leadership gifts from Artist Series Co-founders, Jerold Ross and Lee Dougherty Ross and Virginia Toulmin the fund was begun in 2002. Both continue to provide annual support to the fund. In 2006 Virginia Toulmin made a $100,000 gift to the organization which was increased by an additional $71,000 in donations and pledges to the fund.

Various scholarships are presented each year.  The Virginia B. Toulmin Award goes to the first prize winner in the upper division while the Lee & Jerry Ross Scholarship provides the first prize in the Junior Division each year. The Mary Thienes Schunemann Award was initiated in 2007. The Gary Rideout Memorial Fund was created by friends and family of tenor Gary Rideout and provides financial support to emerging career-directed musicians.

Lee Dougherty Ross          John Alan Fischer
Artistic Director                            Executive Director

Officers

Casey Colburn                    Mary Elizabeth Carey
Board Chair                                     Vice President                  

Ray Broth                             Janice Landauer
Secretary                                           Treasurer

At Large

Toni Alperin              Scott Anderson        Paul Caragiulo 

David Cerone             Elisa Graber              Joy McIntyre

Marie Monsky           Barbara Staton          Dr. Russell Wiltshire 

Advisors

David Cerone
Cleveland Institute of Music (voilin)

Stephen King
Shepard School of Music (piano)

Julian Martin
Juilliard School of Music (piano)

Alex Rybeck
Music Director (pianist and arranger)

Nelita True
Eastman School of Music (piano)

Staff

Donna Fisk
Executive Assistant

Click here to download the latest issue.

Past issues -

Accents. March 2013.

Accents. January 2013.

Accents. November 2012.

Accents. September 2012.

Accents. April 2012.

Click the button below to download a FRIENDS membership brochure.

You can also contact FRIENDS Membership Chair, Jean Kinnamon at (941) 309-3428 or friends@artistseriesconcerts.org.

The music simply took over and created a space of its own. Big, strong playing…excellent ensemble. Crisp, clear precision.
The New York Times

…playing that had a kind of clean intoxication to it, pulling the listener along…the musicians took real risks in their music making…
The New York Times 

It glowed with musicality and balance…from fragile delicacy to virile aggression and eloquent songfulness…
The Los Angeles Times

The Vega Quartet played with suave urgency and immaculate technique…
Miami Herald

The Vega Quartet took four of the top six prizes at the 1999 Bordeaux international String Quartet Competition. Its members have studied with the players of the most esteemed quartets of the preceding generation, including the Amadeus, American, Cleveland, Emerson, Quarneri, Juilliard, Orion, and Tokyo string quartets. The group’s performances have charmed and delighted audiences throughout the United States, Asia and Europe. Live broadcast credits include NPR’s Performance Today in the United States. Vega is the quartet in residence at Emory University.