The Richard Tucker Music Foundation , founded in 1975 by his widow, Sara Tucker, at the suggestion of Herman Krawitz, former Assistant Manager of the Metropolitan Opera and the key designer of the "New Met" in Lincoln Center. The Foundation was created in honor of the American opera singer Richard Tucker , who performed the major Verdi, Puccini, Leoncavallo, and Mozart roles at the Metropolitan Opera from his debut in 1945 until his sudden death from a heart attack in 1975, one week short of his 30th consecutive season as one of the company's leading tenors. The foundation is best known for awarding the annual Richard Tucker award, given to a young opera singer "on the threshold of a major international career," and for hosting the associated annual gala and concert.
20-411: The Sara Tucker Study Grant awards US$ 5,000 unrestricted grants to singers under the age of 27 who are selected through a vocal competition. Applicants must be recent graduates from a university or music conservatory and should be making the transition from student to professional singer. A candidate should have recently completed a graduate degree program or work in a young artist or Apprentice program at
40-447: A fair amount of performing experience in professional companies. Notable winners of this award include: June Anderson , Brian Asawa , Harolyn Blackwell , Stephanie Blythe , Christine Goerke , Susan Graham , Nathan Gunn , Jerry Hadley , John Keyes , Chris Merritt , Stephanie Novacek , and Chad Shelton . The Richard Tucker Award is awarded to a single performer who has "reached a high level of artistic accomplishment and who, in
60-797: A girls' finishing school , founded in 1867 in Cincinnati, Ohio . It merged with the College of Music of Cincinnati in 1955, forming the Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music , which is now part of the University of Cincinnati . The Conservatory, founded by Clara Baur , was the first music school in Cincinnati. In 1924, Mr. Burnet Corwin Tuthill , General Manager of the Conservatory, instigated
80-675: A prolific concert schedule. His orchestral engagements have included appearances with Tafelmusik , the New Holland Baroque Orchestra , the Bridgehampton Chamber Music Festival , and a tour with Academie Baroque de Montréal throughout Canada and Germany. Maniaci has also performed with Boston Baroque and toured throughout Asia with the Shanghai Opera Orchestra . He has also been heard in concert with L' Opéra de Montréal . In 2011, Maniaci played
100-458: A regional company. Notable winners of this award include: Michael Maniaci (2002), Sarah Coburn (2004), and Lisette Oropesa (2007). The Richard Tucker Career Grant awards US$ 10,000 unrestricted grants to singers, selected through a vocal competition, who have begun professional careers and who have already performed roles with opera companies nationally or internationally. A Career Grant candidate must be 36 years old or younger and should have
120-646: A variety of community musical groups. He attended Peters Township High School , and graduated with the class of 1994. Michael Maniaci graduated from the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music with a bachelor's degree in Vocal Performance and went on to the Juilliard School of music where he graduated with a Masters in Vocal Performance. Maniaci first received notice when he received the Bronze Medal in
140-519: Is an American opera singer. Possessing a male soprano voice, Maniaci is noted for his claim to be able to sing into the upper soprano range without resorting to falsetto , an otherwise common phonation for men who sing in high registers, such as countertenors . Although this was possible for castrati because of the hormonal imbalance following castration, Maniaci claims that, for some unknown reason, his larynx did not develop and lengthen completely during puberty, causing his voice not to " break " in
160-629: The Goettingen International Handel Festival , his New York City Opera debut as the Sandman in Hänsel und Gretel , and his return to Glimmerglass Opera as Medoro in Handel's Orlando . In the 2003–2004 season, Maniaci sang Nerone in L'Incoronazione di Poppea with Chicago Opera Theater (which marked the opening of the company's new theatre), and with Cleveland Opera . He also sang
180-670: The Grange Park Opera and return to Opera Atelier to perform Nerone in L'incoronazione di Poppea . In 2010 he will perform in Martín y Soler 's L'arbore di Diana at the Liceu in Barcelona. In 2010, Maniaci originated the role of Xiao Ching in the world premiere of Zhou Long 's opera Madame White Snake with Opera Boston and the Beijing Music Festival . Maniaci has also had
200-683: The Metropolitan Opera , La Fenice , and Opera North . He is known mostly for singing the works of Handel , Mozart , and Monteverdi . Maniaci spent his early childhood in the American Midwest . During his early teens, his family relocated to Western Pennsylvania and resided in Peters Township , a small community located approximately twenty miles south of Pittsburgh . During his middle school years, Maniaci began to develop his musical skills within numerous school musicals, as well as
220-599: The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions . In the 2001–2002 season, Maniaci made his Carnegie Hall debut in Chichester Psalms with The Orchestra of St. Luke's , sang Nerone in L'Incoronazione di Poppea for Toronto's Opéra Atélier , and the title role in Xerxes with Wolf Trap Opera . In the 2002–2003 season, Maniaci made his European debut as Ulisse in Handel's Deidamia with
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#1733084747730240-599: The 1997 Rosa Ponselle International Opera Competition . He went on to gain experience with several prestigious American young artist programs such as Wolf Trap Opera , Glimmerglass Opera 's Young American Artists Program, Aspen Opera Theater and the Tanglewood Music Festival . In 1999, he won the Houston Grand Opera Competition. He is a winner of the 2002 Sara Tucker Study Grant and the 2002 Shoshana Foundation Career Grant . In 2003 he won
260-427: The artist's career to even greater heights." The Richard Tucker Music Foundation also offers programs such as master classes and concerts in a variety of community settings which provide performance opportunities for award winners and enrich the cultural life of the communities in which they take place. These concerts are frequently broadcast on the radio. Michael Maniaci Michael Maniaci (born May 3, 1976)
280-705: The formation of the National Association of Schools of Music together with five other institutions ( American Conservatory of Music , Bush Conservatory of Music, Louisville Conservatory of Music, Pittsburgh Musical Institute, and Walcott Conservatory of Music) at a meeting held on June 10, 1924. Noted alumni include cancer research Aldred Scott Warthin (1877), singer and entertainer Tennessee Ernie Ford (1939), trumpeter Al Hirt (attended 1940), jazz pianist Pat Moran McCoy , composers Harold Morris , Conlon Nancarrow , and Margaret McClure Stitt (attended 1904–05). Many well-known musicians and singers are alumni of
300-491: The opinion of a conferral panel, is on the threshold of a major international career". The Richard Tucker Award, which includes a $ 50,000 cash prize, is selected by committee and not audition. The operative guideline for the Richard Tucker Award is that it be awarded to "an American singer poised on the edge of a major national and international career, and it is hoped that the award acts as a well-timed catalyst to elevate
320-755: The role of Armando in Giacomo Meyerbeer 's Il crociato in Egitto . Also in 2007, Maniaci returned to Glimmerglass Opera to perform the title role in Gluck 's Orfeo ed Euridice . In 2008, Maniaci performed the role of Idamante in Mozart's Idomeneo re di Creta with Opera Atelier . and sang the title role in Xerxes with Boston Baroque . In 2009, Maniaci is scheduled to appear in Francesco Cavalli 's Eliogabalo with
340-615: The role of Sesto, alongside Measha Brueggergosman as Vitellia, in Opera Atelier's production of La Clemenza di Tito in Toronto, Canada. He received a standing ovation on opening night, April 22, 2011. In 2014 he made his debut with the Cincinnati Opera as Endymion in La Calisto . Cincinnati Conservatory of Music The Cincinnati Conservatory of Music was a conservatory , part of
360-529: The title role in Handel's Oreste with the Juilliard Opera Center , and at Glimmerglass Opera he appeared as Tirinto in Handel's Imeneo . That same year, Maniaci won the 2003 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions . In 2004, Maniaci portrayed the role of Cherubino in Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart 's The Marriage of Figaro with Pittsburgh Opera . This was the first time the role
380-420: The usual manner. Maniaci claims that this physical particularity has given him the ability to sing in the soprano register without sounding like a typical countertenor or a female singer. There are, however, critics who claim that Maniaci actually sings in falsetto. Maniaci is becoming an important presence on the international classical music scene, having already appeared in lead roles at companies such as
400-638: Was performed by a man in the United States. In 2005, Maniaci made his debut performances with Santa Fe Opera singing the role of Lucio Cinna opposite Susan Graham 's Cecilio in Mozart's Lucio Silla and his debut with the Royal Danish Opera . In 2006, Maniaci made his Metropolitan Opera debut in the role of Nireno in Handel's Giulio Cesare . In 2007, he made his debut with Opera North as Atis in The Fortunes of King Croesus and with La Fenice in
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