Capitol City Opera Company Founder Wins Lifetime Achievement Award

Capitol City Opera Company Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus Donna Angel will be given the Partners in Excellence Lifetime Award by Opera Volunteers International at their annual conference which will be held jointly with OPERA America in San Francisco in June. This will be the first time the award has been given to an individual from Georgia. Angel will receive the award at OVI's Awards Dinner on Friday, June 20 at San Francisco's War Memorial Opera House.

With the Partners in Excellence Lifetime Award, Opera Volunteers International (OVI) honors individuals or support groups who have made outstanding contributions to their opera companies and their communities. Angel, who founded Capitol City Opera Company (CCOC) in 1983, was nominated by the CCOC Board of Directors to recognize her exceptional dedication and singular vision in creating an opera company whose sole purpose is to champion Atlanta's local opera talent. Under Donna's leadership, Capitol City Opera Company has provided a training ground for Atlanta's young opera singers by creating opportunities for them to learn and perform repertoire and refine their vocal and acting skills on a professional level.

"For those of us involved in Capitol City Opera Company, we have long recognized Donna's extraordinary achievements. She has an unparalleled passion for nurturing opera talent, and has remained focused on that mission through Capitol City Opera Company for more than 30 years. We are very happy to see her honored publicly for her work," comments CCOC Board President Cory Colton.

Michael Nutter, who took over the artistic director reins from Angel in 2008, says, "I am so pleased to see Donna recognized for her unflagging commitment to educating young singers. There are many singers enjoying successful careers today because of Donna. In creating and dedicating herself to Capitol City Opera Company over the years, she has provided performance opportunities for Atlanta singers allowing them to take the next step toward their professional careers."

"I am just thrilled," comments Angel. "Opera education has been my mainstay throughout my life. I can't envision myself doing anything else. I am grateful to the CCOC Board of Directors for nominating me and to OVI for recognizing the hard work of opera volunteers."

Atlanta Boy Choir Founder and Director Fletcher Wolfe, one of Angel's many fans in Atlanta's performing arts community, comments, "It is a real pleasure to learn that Donna will receive this award. I have known Donna since she came to Atlanta a half century ago to sing in my opera company, The Atlanta Chamber Opera Society. Her Capitol City Opera Company has provided so many young singers the same opportunities she had experienced as well as given Atlanta some remarkable opera performances. Donna and her late husband, Attorney Henry Angel, devoted their lives to the development of opera for the people, and she deserves the honor recognizing their commitment to opera in Atlanta."

To post a comment, you must register and login.