Inter-Cities is always happy to share good news from soprano Audrey Luna, one of our past competition winners. Below is a recent letter from Audrey, our first-place 2006 Competition winner. Read it and smile with us:

Happy New Year!

It's been a while since I last updated everyone so I thought I would share some new developments. I have been so happy since signing with my agent, Herbert Barrett Management, this past spring. They are really great people who I trust and in whom have confidence.

Love,
Audrey

And from Nili Riemer, our second-place winner, we share her good news:

BARITONE LAWRENCE HARRIS CAPTURES 1ST PRIZE IN ALTAMURA/CARUSO INTERNATIONAL VOICE COMPETITION FORMER NFL OFFENSIVE LINEBACKER-TURNED-OPERA SINGER BRINGS DOWN THE HOUSE

Round Top, New York. August 24 - Competition, definition: A test of skill or ability; a contest, as for a profit or prize.

Adhering to the theme, "Jealousy in Opera," 18 young singers from around the world competed for prestige and cash prizes before a sold-out audience of opera devotees and music lovers, artist's managers and a renowned jury at the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition in Round Top. On Sunday afternoon, baritone Lawrence Harris won the coveted, $6,500 first-place prize after his arias from Puccini's Tosca held the audience spellbound. In addition, he was awarded the esteemed Audience Prize.

But Mr. Harris' résumé reads a little differently from most. A former offensive linebacker for the Houston Oilers, the Texas native, who is part Choctaw Indian, had always harbored a quiet desire to sing. When he finally hung up his cleats, he wasted no time trading one set of bright lights for another.

Armed with determination and two bachelor's degrees, he headed for New York where he enrolled in the Manhattan School of Music. Moreover, he was able to pursue specialized training from independent teachers and coaches with generous financial assistance from the Metropolitan Opera National Council.

The hard work and dedication paid off: He was recently signed by International Music Talents, an artists' management firm in Paris.

With a singing career that has taken him to halls in San Antonio, Fort Worth, Tulsa, Detroit, New York, Hawaii, Connecticut, Paris and Philadelphia's much-touted new Kimmel Center, Mr. Harris retains an admirable Southern modesty. When asked where he would like to be in five years, he said, "I would like to have earned the respect of my colleagues."

Apparently his talent has already earned the respect of venerable New York Times music critic, Bernard Holland, who wrote, "This is a major voice."

Winning second and third place, respectively, were baritone Jordan Shanahan of Honolulu and bass-baritone Todd Donovan of St. Petersburg, Florida. Honorable Mention was given to tenor Jeffrey Halili of Philadelphia, who, in addition to singing his own roles, stepped in on a moment's notice to perform the role of an indisposed guest artist. Each of the remaining contestants received a $500 honorarium.

Donald C. Drake, a former staff writer at the Philadelphia Inquirer, whose series was nominated three times for the Pulitzer Prize, was honored with a special award for his principled and humanitarian works.

Camille Coppola, the highly-regarded founder of the New Rochelle (NY) Opera, served as stage director for the "Jealousy in Opera" scenes. Anton Coppola (no relation), director of Tampa Opera and renowned composer of opera and film, conducted and served as Artistic Director. Maestro Coppola, who is the uncle of famed Academy-Award winning film directors Francis Ford Coppola and Sophia Coppola, composed the film scores for the Godfather III and Dracula, among others.

Reflecting on the international scope and growth of the competition in its 20th anniversary year, founder and soprano Carmela Altamura said, "I was an immigrant to this country when I was 8 years old. Later, as a winner of a Metropolitan Opera Guild Award, I was given an opportunity. Others helped me and now it's my turn to help others. In this competition, we've had some of the finest young talents in the world. They've come from Moscow and Rome, Hawaii and the Ukraine, Israel and Canada and beyond. They are the crème de la crème, and it is our honor and privilege to help them."

With help, talent and ambition, Lawrence Harris has come a long way from the locker room. Reflecting on the circuitous route that brought him to this place and time, he told a prophetic tale. When he first entered the NFL, rookies were often made to sing in the mess hall at the whim of a superior. Rock songs, college fight songs or nursery rhymes were offered up. But when it came Mr. Harris' turn, he broke out in an Italian aria, leaving the gape-mouthed players speechless.

Fast-forward to New York, August 24, 2008, where, far from the NFL, Lawrence Harris finally earned that respect from his musical colleagues - and of everyone else present as well.

HONOLULU SINGER CAPTURES 2ND PLACE IN INTERNATIONAL VOICE COMPETITION IN NEW YORK

Round Top, New York. August 24 - Competition, definition: A test of skill or ability; a contest, as for a profit or prize.

Adhering to the theme, "Jealousy in Opera," 18 young singers from around the world competed for prestige and cash prizes before a sold-out audience of opera devotees, music lovers and a renowned jury at the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition in Round Top, New York. On Sunday afternoon, baritone Jordan Shanahan captured the 2nd place, $4,500 prize after his arias by Donizetti and Mascagni warmed the audience.

A native of Honolulu, Mr. Shanahan studied composition for 3 years at the University of Hawaii and pursued voice and opera studies at Temple University in Philadelphia. He was in the prestigious Residency Program at Lyric Opera of Chicago Center for American Artists, and was selected to be in the 2005 Apprentice Singer Program at the Santa Fe Opera.

Having recently performed in Lo Bohème, La Traviata and Dr. Atomic (composer John Adams) at Chicago Lyric Opera, he is also preparing a covering role for Phillip Glass' Satyagraha.

Where would he like to be in five years? "I would like to perform major roles in regional opera." And if coming events cast their shadows, he is well on his way.

Members of the competition's internationally-renowned jury were Carmela Altamura, competition founder and soprano recitalist; Mark Sforzini, Artistic Director and Conductor, St. Petersburg Opera; Camille Coppola, stage director and founder, New Rochelle (New York) Opera; and Anton Coppola (no relation), conductor, composer of opera and film, and director of Tampa Opera. Maestro Coppola, who is the uncle of famed Academy Award-winning film directors Francis Ford Coppola and Sophia Coppola, composed the film scores for the Godfather III and Dracula, among others.

Reflecting on the international scope and growth of the competition in its 20th anniversary year, founder and soprano Carmela Altamura said, "I was an immigrant to this country when I was 8 years old. Later, as a winner of a Metropolitan Opera Guild Award, I was given an opportunity. Others helped me and now it's my turn to help others. In this competition, we've had some of the finest young talents in the world. They've come from Moscow and Rome, Hawaii and the Ukraine, Israel and Canada and beyond. They are the crème de la crème, and it is our honor and privilege to help them."

In a delightful asterisk to his performance at the Altamura Competition, Mr. Shanahan performed a duet there with his bride, soprano and guest artist Audrey Luna, who was a winner in the 2006 Altamura Competition. When asked if he would have liked to have pursued any other profession, one that would be more financially solid, for example, the young baritone replied, "I'm grateful to be a musician."

The jury seconds that.

ST. PETERSBURG SINGER CAPTURES 3RD PLACE IN PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL VOICE COMPETITION IN NEW YORK

Round Top, New York. August 24 - Competition, definition: A test of skill or ability; a contest, as for a profit or prize.

Adhering to the theme, "Jealousy in Opera," 18 young singers from around the world competed for prestige and cash prizes before a sold-out audience of opera devotees, music lovers and a renowned jury at the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition in Round Top, New York. On Sunday afternoon, bass-baritone Todd Donovan captured the 3rd place, $3,500 prize after his arias by Puccini and Verdi held the hall spellbound.

A native of St. Petersburg, Mr. Donovan received his bachelor's degree from Eckerd College and his master's degree from the Dallas Theological Seminary in Texas. He pursued private voice studies with Richard Torigi.

In recent years, area audiences have heard him perform the role of Leporello in Mozart's Don Giovanni at St. Petersburg Opera, and in Samuel Barber's Dover Beach, a work for solo voice and string quartet, presented on the Palladium Theater's "Encore Series."

When asked if he thought the teaching of classical music should be restored in American public schools on a daily basis, he responded, "Absolutely. I was exposed to classical music in middle school and it changed the direction of my life."

And Mr. Donovan walks the talk. For several years, he has participated in the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center's outreach programs. He is currently involved in a program called "Opera-tunities" that brings opera into public schools, from elementary to high school. "It's been a huge success," he said.

Where would he like to be in five years? "I would like to keep my current position in my church as Pastor of Worship and Fine Arts, to which I am committed, while accepting singing engagements in a much wider geographical area."

Members of the competition's internationally-renowned jury were Carmela Altamura, competition founder and soprano recitalist; Mark Sforzini, Artistic Director and Conductor, St. Petersburg Opera; Camille Coppola, stage director and founder, New Rochelle (New York) Opera; and Anton Coppola (no relation), conductor, composer of opera and film, and director of Tampa Opera. Maestro Coppola, who is the uncle of famed Academy Award-winning film directors Francis Ford Coppola and Sophia Coppola, composed the film scores for the Godfather III and Dracula, among others.

Reflecting on the international scope and growth of the competition in its 20th anniversary year, founder and soprano Carmela Altamura said, "I was an immigrant to this country when I was 8 years old. Later, as a winner of a Metropolitan Opera Guild Award, I was given an opportunity. Others helped me and now it's my turn to help others. In this competition, we've had some of the finest young talents in the world. They've come from Moscow and Rome, Hawaii and the Ukraine, Israel and Canada and beyond. They are the crème de la crème, and it is our honor and privilege to help them."

Achieving one of many goals in his meaningful and musical life, Todd Donovan walked onstage to share his talent and walked off with the prize. If "coming events cast their shadows...," he will use his talent wisely and well.