OPERA America Celebrates Honorees at 2009 National Opera Trustee Recognition Evening

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New York, NY’ÄîOPERA America, the national service organization for opera, honored the four recipients of its 2009 National Opera Trustee Recognition award at a dinner and reception in New York City on Saturday, February 21. In its second year, the award honors trustees of U.S. opera companies for exemplary leadership, generosity and audience building efforts on behalf of their respective companies.

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The 2009 National Opera Trustee Recognition honorees are Mr. John T. Cody, Jr. of The Dallas Opera, Mr. Richard Holland of Opera Omaha, Mrs. Beth Ingram of Lyric Opera of Kansas City, and Mr. C. Guy Rudisill, III of Piedmont Opera.

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In welcoming the evening’Äôs honorees and guests, OPERA America Board of Directors Vice-Chairman Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann said, ’ÄúWe initiated this program two years ago based on our first-hand knowledge that healthy opera companies are built on the foundations of strong boards. What we didn’Äôt know was that this year, in light of the economic turmoil, strong boards and dedicated trustees would be more important than ever. The winners of this year’Äôs awards demonstrate the highest standard of leadership, dedication and generosity.’Äù

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’ÄúThe guidance and generous support provided by dedicated board members are more valuable than ever, given the current economic conditions,’Äù stated Marc A. Scorca, president & CEO of OPERA America. ’ÄúWe are pleased to recognize the long-standing achievements of these trustees as they continue to help ensure the cultural and economic vitality of our communities.’Äù

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Joining Dr. Lindemann and Mr. Scorca in honoring these exceptional trustees were the honorees’Äô respective General Directors, family and friends, the OPERA America Board of Directors, OPERA America Ambassador Circle donors and trustees and staff representing OPERA America member companies.

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In addition to the award presentations, the Trustee Recognition dinner and reception featured excerpts from Stephen Schwartz’Äôs Sˆ©ance on a Wet Afternoon, performed by baritone Michael Zegarski, and Lee Hoiby’Äôs Lady of the Harbor, performed by soprano Adrienne Danrich. Pianist Kelly Horsted accompanied the singers.

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OPERA America is committed to recognizing strong trustee leaders and to understanding the pivotal role they play in the success of their opera companies and the communities they serve. In acknowledging and celebrating the dedication of board members at the national level, the National Opera Trustee Recognition Program seeks to strengthen the relationships between opera companies and their trustees and to inspire exemplary service to opera companies across the United States.

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OPERA America’Äôs dedication to recognizing excellence in governance is shared by its sister organization Opera.ca, the Canadian national association for opera. During Saturday’Äôs reception, the Canadian Opera Company’Äôs Mr. J. Rob Collins was honored as the first recipient of Opera.ca’Äôs National Opera Directors Recognition Program.

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Photo: J. Rob Collins, Canadian Opera Company; Dr. Frayda B. Lindemann, OPERA America; Beth Ingram, Lyric Opera of Kansas City; C. Guy Rudisill, III, Piedmont Opera; and John T. Cody, Jr., The Dallas Opera. Photo by Jon Simon, courtesy OPERA America.

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To obtain a high-resolution version of this photo, please contact Patricia Kiernan Johnson at pkjohnson@operaamerica.org.