Fifty percent.
That's the Traverse City rate of high school finalists in the Annual Italian Songs and Arias Vocal Competition over the past four years.
Each year since 1994, the Verdi Opera Theater of Michigan chooses ten finalists from audition tapes. These young musicians then sing live at the Italian-American Culture Club in Clinton Township for an enthusiastic audience of opera devotees as well as three judges, who will select the winners. The 13th annual event will be held this year on May 6.
The representation by singers from Traverse City Central and West High schools, St. Francis High School and Interlochen Arts Academy has totaled 20 out of 40 finalists since 2004: five in 2004 (all from West,) seven in 2005, three in 2006 and five this year.
The 2007 finalists from the region, all graduating seniors, are Aubrey Blanche from St. Francis High School and four Interlochen Arts Academy students: Emma Grettenberger of Traverse City, Boek San Kang of Busan, Korea, Laura Mixter, of Naples, Fla., and Erin O'Leary of Manchester, N.H.
"I think the Traverse City area should be proud of its students and its music legacy, year after year after year, which means the teachers and the system are very good,” said John Zaretti, co-founder and president of the Verdi Opera Theater. "It must be in the water and in the air.”
"It's really gratifying to see that the arts are being so considered and encouraged there,” he added.
The finalists were selected from a record 70 vocalists, a jump of 24 entrants over the previous year. The tapes were numbered and judged anonymously.
"The competition was really, really stiff this year,” noted Zaretti.
This is the third consecutive year Grettenberger will trek downstate to sing opera in May. She qualified her sophomore year while attending Central High School and the past two years as a student at Interlochen. Grettenberger, who has been inspired by her years at Interlochen to pursue vocal studies in college, will present a song from a Puccini opera and another composition by Handel.
"I think it is good to go back because I know what I'm getting into and am familiar with the space and the people who coordinate it,” she said of the competition. "Definitely opera is one of my favorites.”
Blanche credits her finalist invitation to the vibrant choral program at St. Francis as well as two years of private lessons with Interlochen instructor Nicole Philibosian. Heading next year to Northwestern University to study both journalism and vocal performance, she termed this accomplishment "amazing.”
"It's a really nice compliment to be put there with your peers, especially with my high school's music program because Mrs. Mawby started it about seven years ago but it really started to take off with my class,” said Blanche, who will sing an Italian ballad and a more upbeat song.
"I feel kind of nervous but my little trick is that I have an alter ego, 'Audrey,' that performs for me,” added Blanche of a stage-fright coping mechanism she developed years ago.
The Italian Songs and Arias Vocal Competition is one of few that target high school singers and is an even greater rarity because it gives winners money. First prize is $1,000 while second place will take home $300 and third will net $200; the remaining seven finalists will each be awarded $50.
"There really aren't a lot of high school competitions and a competition for high schoolers that has a cash prize at the end is fairly unique,” said Jeffery Norris, an instructor of voice at Interlochen 21 years and Grettenberger's teacher.
Norris noted that success will hinge on multiple factors: hard work, innate talent, good teachers and being well prepared, especially in Italian literature.
"Because these people know their Italian,” Norris said.