Toronto, January 24, 2006 – The recipients of the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards were announced at a competition held in Toronto at the Heliconian Club on Sunday, January 22, 2006.
Four young opera singers received awards:
First prize: Sonja Gustafson, soprano $2,000
Second prize: Philip Carmichael, baritone $1,000
Third prize: Lawrence J. Wiliford, tenor $ 750
Encouragement award: Justin Welsh, bartione $ 500
The awards recognize excellence in performance and potential. The winners were chosen by jurors Philip Boswell, Artistic Administrator, Canadian Opera Company, Carrol Anne Curry, Managing Director, Dean Artists Management, Stuart Hamilton, Vocal coach, Pianist, CBC Radio Personality and John Hess, Co-Artistic Director, Queen of Puddings Music Theatre.
The awards are financed from the Christina and Louis Quilico Fund, established by Christina Petrowska Quilico at the Ontario Arts foundation to honour her late husband, renowned baritone, Louis Quilico. During his 45 years on the world stage, Quilico shared performing credits with Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo, José Carreras, Joan Sutherland and Renata Tebaldi. He was best known as the hunchbacked jester Rigoletto, a part he played 510 times in his career. Quilico was also instrumental in furthering the careers of many young singers through his teaching and master classes. The awards were set up to recognize outstanding young singers, pianists, and composers for voice.
The Ontario Arts Foundation manages the endowment that funds the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards. Established in 1991 as a public charitable foundation, the Foundation holds over 270 endowments totalling more than $43 million and pays out over $2 million annually in support of the arts.
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For information, please contact:
Janet Stubbs
Director, Ontario Arts Foundation
Tel: (416) 969-7413
jstubbs@arts.on.ca