Ahead of WRTI's broadcast of the Academy of Vocal Arts' 2012 Giargiari Bel Canto Competition on Sunday at 3 pm - with listeners having the opportunity to vote for their personal favorite at wrti.org. Many Giargiari Competition participants have gone on to stellar careers, and in recent years three in particular have also been awarded the prestigious Richard Tucker Foundation Award, including tenors James Valenti and Stephen Costello, and soprano Angela Meade.
Last year's winner was tenor William Davenport, a native of Rockville, Maryland, who was then in his first year at AVA; he came into our studios earlier this week to tell Jim Cotter about the pressures and rewards of his young opera career.
http://youtu.be/cNOL6OmzXwU