Richard Tucker Music Foundation Announces 2024 Gala, 10/27 at Carnegie Hall

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Mallory McFarland | Morahan Arts and Media
mallory@morahanartsandmedia.com | 646.241.0899

RICHARD TUCKER MUSIC FOUNDATION
PRESENTS 2024 OPERA GALA

Sunday, October 27 at
Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall

Featuring Performances by Xabier Anduaga, Jamie Barton, Stephanie Blythe,
J'Nai Bridges, Stephen Costello, Michael Fabiano, Ryan Speedo Green,
Quinn Kelsey, Michael Spyres, and Rachel Willis-Sørensen

RichardTucker.org

New York, NY (September 3, 2024) — The Richard Tucker Music Foundation presents its annual Gala on Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 6:30 p.m. at Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Tickets will go on sale Monday, September 9.

Bringing together a star-studded roster of previous Richard Tucker Award Winners, Grant Recipients, and special guests, this year’s concert will feature mezzo-soprano Jamie Barton (2015 Richard Tucker Award, 2012 Richard Tucker Career Grant), mezzo-soprano Stephanie Blythe (1999 Richard Tucker Award, 1997 Richard Tucker Career Grant), mezzo-soprano J'Nai Bridges (2016 Richard Tucker Career Grant, 2012 Sara Tucker Study Grant), tenor Stephen Costello (2009 Richard Tucker Award, 2007 Richard Tucker Career Grant), tenor Michael Fabiano (2014 Richard Tucker Award, 2007 Sara Tucker Study Grant), bass-baritone Ryan Speedo Green (2014 Richard Tucker Career Grant, 2011 Sara Tucker Study Grant), baritone Quinn Kelsey (2006 Richard Tucker, Career Grant, 2004 Sara Tucker Study Grant), and soprano Rachel Willis-Sørensen (2014 Richard Tucker Career Grant, 2010 Sara Tucker Study Grant).

Additionally, international tenor stars Xabier Anduaga and Michael Spyres make rare New York appearances at this event.

Returning to accompany these singers are acclaimed pianists Bryan Wagorn and Howard Watkins who joined the Foundation for the 2023 Gala.

Program of operatic favorites spanning the repertoire to be announced.

A Gala fundraising dinner with the artists will follow the concert.

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation’s 2024 Gala is a fundraiser to directly support the foundation’s award and grant programs, and to continue Richard Tucker’s legacy of advancing the careers of talented young American opera singers and bringing opera to the community.

Program Information
2024 Richard Tucker Gala 
Sunday, October 27, 2024 at 6:30 p.m.
Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall
Tickets: On sale Monday, September 9; starting at $50
Link: https://richardtucker.org/events/ 

Tickets
Tickets to the concert-only and full Gala evening will be on sale starting Monday, September 9 through the Richard Tucker Foundation by calling 212-757-2218 (Monday through Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. ET). Concert-only tickets will be on sale starting Monday, September 9 at carnegiehall.org, by calling CarnegieCharge at 212-247-7800, or by visiting the Box Office at 57th and 7th.

Performers
Xabier Anduaga, tenor, special guest
Jamie Barton, mezzo-soprano, 2015 Richard Tucker Award, 2012 Richard Tucker Career Grant
Stephanie Blythe, mezzo-soprano, 1999 Richard Tucker Award, 1997 Richard Tucker Career Grant
J'Nai Bridges, mezzo-soprano, 2016 Richard Tucker Career Grant, 2012 Sara Tucker Study Grant
Stephen Costello, tenor, 2009 Richard Tucker Award, 2007 Richard Tucker Career Grant
Michael Fabiano, tenor, 2014 Richard Tucker Award, 2007 Sara Tucker Study Grant
Ryan Speedo Green, bass-baritone, 2014 Richard Tucker Career Grant, 2011 Sara Tucker Study Grant
Quinn Kelsey, baritone, 2006 Richard Tucker Career Grant, 2004 Sara Tucker Study Grant
Michael Spyres, tenor, special guest
Rachel Willis-Sørensen, soprano, 2014 Richard Tucker Career Grant, 2010 Sara Tucker Study Grant
Bryan Wagorn, piano
Howard Watkins, piano

The concert will last approximately 90 minutes with no intermission.

About the Richard Tucker Music Foundation
After Richard Tucker’s untimely death in 1975, his duo partner and friend Robert Merrill worked with the Tucker family to organize a gathering of opera legends, including Martina Arroyo and Roberta Peters, to take place on what would have been the duo’s next date at Carnegie Hall. The Richard Tucker Music Foundation was formed later that year, and the concert became an annual tradition, raising funds to support young American opera singers and keep the beloved tenor’s memory alive. For more than four decades, the foundation’s annual concert has brought together some of opera’s most illustrious stars, including Leonard Bernstein, Montserrat Caballé, Plácido Domingo, Luciano Pavarotti, Leontyne Price, and Joan Sutherland.

The Richard Tucker Music Foundation is a non-profit cultural organization dedicated to perpetuating the artistic legacy of the great Brooklyn-born tenor by nurturing the careers of talented young American opera singers. Through awards, grants for study, performance opportunities, and other activities, the foundation provides professional development for singers at various stages of their careers. It also offers free performances in the New York metropolitan area, and supports music education enrichment programs. Each year, the foundation confers its most prestigious prize, the Richard Tucker Award (often referred to as the “Heisman Trophy of Opera”), on an artist poised at the edge of a major international career.

Photo at the top of release by Dario Acosta

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