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Spotlight: the Next Generation
As we have in the past, OperaOnline.us is pleased to Spotlight this month two new talents, who just happen to be First and Second Place winners of the Connecticut Opera Guild's 50th Annual Scholarship Competition held in May, 2004: Jennifer Black - L (soprano) and Cheryse McLeod R (mezzo-soprano).
What made their achievements so noteworthy was not their performances, though each was pretty astounding, but rather, the caliber of those competing against them for a finite number of awards. There were no winners or losers in the competition, only competitors, all of whom demonstrated skill of their craft and a level of professionalism that earned them the privilege of being considered good enough to compete. That, in itself, is worthy of citation.
OperaOnline.us has made the commitment to Spotlight the Next Generation of talent in the northeast through a series of feature articles about them, in the hope that the publicity will further encourage them to persevere, and as a way of saying to others, you don't have to be at the top to gain recognition, you only have to stay in the race . Jennifer Black and Cheryse McLeod are in the race and, as you will see from their backgrounds, are both very much committed to staying the course. With their talent and determination it's hard to see anyting but opportunity knocking at their doors. [Click on their names to read about them]
