NEWS August 6, 2007
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Jerome Saintjones
Utterly Divine!
AAMU Student Diva Joins Opera Project
Huntsville, Ala. ---- A spirit-filled Alabama A&M University soprano has returned from a summer of a lifetime.
Shonda Devine participated in the American Singers' Opera Project (ASOP). ASOP is a not-for-profit program that educates American opera singers about the imperatives for a career in opera. Graduates of the ASOP program are now singing in Europe and at the New York City Opera.
“In one short week I gained a wealth of knowledge, direction and confidence,” says Devine. “I thank God and the wonderful staff of ASOP!”
During the first 10 years of ASOP's existence in New York, ASOP's Summer Workshop Program in New York bridged the gap for young opera singers between graduation from university and a professional career. This unique program was designed to fit the scheduling needs of excellent American singers had day jobs, and could not afford the high cost of education in summer programs that operate overseas.
Just this year, the Board of Directors decided to move ASOP from New York City to North Carolina, due to rising costs in New York that made it impossible to keep the workshop affordable for young singers. Its first workshop in the South was held at Greensboro College in Greensboro, N.C., featuring vocal master classes with renowned singers and teachers and led ASOP’s founder Nancy Stokes-Milnes.
Two years ago, the AAMU soprano and gifted vocal performance major was accepted to participate in the prestigious University of Miami Frost School of Music at Salzburg College in Austria.
Posted By: Jehan Bunch
Monday, August 6th 2007 at 10:49AM
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