Courier-Post from Camden, New Jersey • Page 92

COURIER-POST, Sunday, April 9, 2000 ConcertAcclaimed singers waive their fees to benefit Academy of Vocal Arts Continued from Page IE AVA expects to add more than $100,000 to its scholarship fund, which guarantees tuition-free training to 30 young singers while they are groomed for operatic careers. "AVA provided me a stepping stone between school and my career," explains Morris. "After two years, I made my debut at the Met." Romeo et Juliette. Giordani closes the evening with every Italian tenor's signature aria, "Nessun dorma" from Puccini's Turandot. All the singers are contributing their fees.

At the end of the evening, "A lot of young singers get lost in the shuffle between the conservatory and an opera career. AVA provides the transition." James Morris, bass-baritone Morris, 53, has been a stalwart at the Metropolitan Opera for 30 years. Still in peak vocal form, he is currently starring as Wotan in the Met's production of Wagner's Ring Cycle. At AVA, Morris received the vocal coaching, language studies and performance experience that took him to the world's great stages. He credits stage director Tito Capobian-co and conductor Anton Guadagno both then on the AVA faculty with grooming him for starring roles.

"A lot of young singers get lost In the shuffle between the conservatory and an opera career," explains Morris. "AVA provides the transition." The opera business, says Morris, is a small world in which a career is made by "climbing up a ladder." AVA provides valuable contacts with agents, conductors and auditions. "That kind of help is invaluable," Morris says, but then adds, "You still have to be in the right place at the right time. A career is 90 percent luck." Following Morris up the career ladder is another bass, Valerian Ruminski. Like Morris, Ruminski has secured a place on international stages while studying at AVA.

Ruminski, 31, compares himself to a newborn colt "stumbling around" when he arrived at AVA from SUNY-Buffalo four years ago. "The first few years, I was raw. The university does not prepare you for an opera career. AVA gave me my baptism by fire." Coached intensively by Macatsor-is, Ruminski built up a repertory of roles and earned stage experience in the academy's opera productions. Even before he graduated, Ruminski IT" w.

(7 4" mm his future in operas by Handel, Vivaldi and Monteverdi, which call for vocal flexibility rather than dramatic power. "I've used this aria in a lot of competitions," says the bass. "I've developed the vocal technique to sing this music." In addition to providing free coaching and tuition in languages and acting, AVA awards fellowship grants of $5,000 to 11 students. Three new fellowships, named after Morris, Giordani and Merrill, will be an nounced during this evening's concert at the Academy of Music. 1 The concert comes at a time when AVA is finalizing plans for expansion.

Recently, the Academy acquired the property next to its home in a historic town house at 1920 Spruce St. After renovations costing $500,000, the school will have a recording studio, dance studio and additional office and classroom space. The lineup for this evening's concert features other talented graduates of the AVA. Soprano Indra Thomas, who has already sung at the Metropolitan Opera, will perform the love duet from Puccini's Mada-ma Butterfly with tenor Giordani. Soprano Cassandra Riddle, a member of the NYCO, is featured in Vi-oletta's first-act scene from Tra-viata.

"There are a lot of talented people banging their heads against the wall because they didn't get the kind of training AVA provides," sums up Morris. "AVA provides invaluable training in an atmosphere that encourages learning and il' it II LOEWS CHERRY HILL Rt 38 and Haddonfield Rd (609)486-1722 ALL STADIUM SEATING ALL DIGITAL SOUND IT.TTiMtT.fl NOW SHOWING! I 1 was signed up by the New York City Opera to sing in Bizet's Carmen. After his audition, Beverly Sills singled out Ruminski for the 1999 Lincoln CenterMartin Segal Award given to talented young artists. A scout from the Metropolitan Opera came to hear a tenor in a NY-CO performance last fall. She was more impressed with Ruminski.

Within days, he was invited to audition for the Met. Ruminski makes his Met debut next season in Car-men. Like every young singer, Ruminski dreamed of singing at the Met. "I didn't think it would happen this fast," he adds. In tonight's gala, Ruminski will sing one of his showpieces, a florid aria from Handel's Orlando.

Unlike Morris who has built his career on Verdi and Wagner, Ruminski sees 7Tn i nnAt; KaylscmiEMAS iMaM CMinnv hill Rt. 38 and Hddonfild Rd 603406-1722 laP UrV 1) ft I 1847964 aolfeKl I85U tronilc, MYAMMiool Daily Bargain Matinees in (Parenthesis) READY TO RUMBLE 00) 40 (PG-13) THE CIDER HOUSE RULES 50 (PQ-13) WHATEVER IT 6 (Prj-13) THE WHOLE NINE YARDS (1:50) 50 (R) ROMEO MUST DIE (1 20-4 20) 7 20-10 20 (R) THE ROAO TO EL DORADO(12 (PG) FINAL DESTINATION 00) 7 (R) HIGH FIDELITY 40) 6 40-9 40 (R) THE ROAO TO EL DORADO (PG) PRICE OF GLORY 6 (PG-13) THE NINTH GATE (2 40) (R) BOYS DON'T CRY (12 00 2:50) (R) THE ROAD TO EL DORADO 40) 7 15-9 45 (PG) RULES OF (R) ROMEO MUST DIE (2:20) 5 20 8 20 (R) (R) AMERICAN BEAUTY (12 20-3 15) 6 (R) RETURN TO MEM 10 (PG) MISSION TO MARS (1 PG) (R) RETURN TO ME (2:10 5 10-810 (PG) RULES OF 45) 6 00-8 (R) READY TO RUMBLE FREE KIDS FILM SERIES THE IRON GIANT' PG Kids FreeAdults $1 OO ISJ 1 250 Bromley Blvd. 239-a300l 1596-8289 cSw'wi 'i -mviv-i ATIMISSION and JC PARKING lor BUYERS Sellers Fees: $30. per day Reserved: $40. $50.

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