Gala Graves press release final_3_11_09

							                             COMMONWEALTH YOUTHCHOIRS,                                                                                 INC.
                                                                                          Joseph P. Fitzmartin and Steven M. Fisher, Co-Founders

                             FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
                             Contact:           Angela Wende
        Susan S. Ashbaker                       c: 267.265.3165
       Executive Director                       marketing@cychoirs.org


                                 Operatic superstar Denyce Graves to perform at Commonwealth Youthchoirs Gala
                                                                    Concert
                             Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, March 12, 2009—Commonwealth Youthchoirs has announced that Denyce Graves,
                             recognized worldwide as one of today’s most exciting vocal stars, will appear as guest star at its 5th Annual Gala
                             Concert at the Kimmel Center on June 16, 2009.
     Joseph P. Fitzmartin
          Music Director     Described by USA Today as “an operatic superstar of the 21st century,” Denyce Graves has achieved unparalleled
                             popular and critical acclaim for performances on four continents. The combination of her expressive, rich vocalism,
         Steven M. Fisher    elegant stage presence, and exciting theatrical abilities allows her to pursue a wide breadth of operatic portrayals
                             as well as to delight audiences in concert and recital appearances.
 Associate Music Director
                             In announcing Ms. Graves’ appearance, Commonwealth Youthchoirs Executive Director Susan S. Ashbaker said,
                             “We are delighted that our choirs will have the opportunity to join in a performance with the magnificent Denyce
                             Graves. She is an incredible role model for our young singers, and we look forward to a spectacular event this
                             June, certain to be memorable for singers and audience alike.”

                             Denyce Graves is particularly well-known to operatic audiences for her portrayals of the title roles in Carmen and
                             Samson et Dalila. She has performed these signature roles with the world’s most venerable companies, including
                             the Metropolitan Opera, Vienna Staatsoper, Royal Opera, Covent Garden,Opéra National de Paris, Lyric Opera of
                             Chicago, the Washington Opera, Bayerische Staatsoper, Arena di Verona, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Opernhaus
       Mark A. Anderson      Zürich, Teatro Real in Madrid, Teatro Colón in Buenos Aires, and the Festival Maggio Musicale in Florence.
          Music Director
                             Graves has worked with leading symphony orchestras and conductors, including Charles Dutoit, Christoph
                Jodi Bohr    Eschenbach, James Levine, Zubin Mehta, Lorin Maazel, Kurt Masur, Riccardo Muti, and Mstislav Rostropovich, in
 Associate Music Director    a wide range of repertoire. One of the music world's most sought-after recitalists, Ms. Graves’ programs include
                             classical repertoire of German Lieder, French mélodie, and English art song, as well as the popular music of
                             Broadway musicals, crossover and jazz together with American spirituals.
 35 West Chelten Avenue
                             During the past season, the artist won critical acclaim as Baba the Turk in a Robert Lepage production of The
                             Rake’s Progress at San Francisco Opera, made her Hong Kong debut as Charlotte in Werther at Hong Kong
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania   Opera, and appeared in the title role of Carmen with the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the Hollywood Bowl. She also
                             traveled internationally making extensive tours of concerts, recitals and master classes.
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                             The June 16 Gala Concert at the Perelman Theater at the Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts marks the fifth
                             such performance for Commonwealth Youthchoirs. Now in its eighth year, the organization provides music
                             education and performance opportunities for nearly 300 young singers, aged seven through high school,
          t 215.849.1762     representing the greater Philadelphia area, New Jersey and Delaware, who sing with one of its two member-choirs,
                             Keystone State Boychoir (www.paboychoir.org) and Pennsylvania Girlchoir (www.pagirlchoir.org). Tickets for the
          f 215.849.1763     concert go on sale in May.

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