Verismo Opera Nominated Favorite Opera Company In 10th Annual JerseyArts.com People's Choice Awards

The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera announces its nomination for Favorite Opera Company in the 2018 JerseyArts.com People's Choice Awards. The annual awards program, overseen by Discover Jersey Arts, is observing its tenth year honoring the work of New Jersey's vibrant and diverse arts organizations.

With ballots easily accessible online to complete, arts lovers may vote for their favorite local arts organizations anywhere and any time. Voters are not limited to New Jersey. Patrons may reside anywhere and vote for their favorite arts organizations.

"The People's Choice Award is a great honor, and we are incredibly grateful the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera has been nominated again this year. We encourage opera lovers and newcomers to the art form to join us on April 22, 2018 to see our debut of Turandot and support Verismo Opera by voting in this year's awards competition. Winning the award would give the company a distinctive place in the greater New Jersey cultural art scene," said Artistic Director Lucine Amara.

Through the Jersey Arts Marketers' network, comprised of hundreds of arts groups across the state, the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera and the other contenders in the 2018 People's Choice Awards were nominated by their peers. Eleven arts districts and 116 organizations are competing in 18 categories, including favorite opera company, music festival, art gallery, small theatre, and ballet company among others.

"Fans of the New Jersey arts scene are passionate and loyal, and for good reason," said Nick Paleologos, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. "This program has grown beyond our expectations, and that is a direct result of the distinctive, thriving arts industry in this state offering high- quality experiences all year round."

Public voting runs through Tuesday, February 20, 2018 at www.JerseyArts.com/Vote. Last year, nearly 18,000 ballots were cast. During this milestone year, Discover Jersey anticipates even more ballots will be completed and submitted.

"Our state is rich with cultural and artistic opportunities," said Adam Perle, President & CEO of ArtPride New Jersey, co-sponsors of the Discover Jersey Arts program with the New Jersey State Council on the Arts. "The People's Choice Awards provides an opportunity to showcase the abundance of creativity across New Jersey, celebrating both winners and nominees with spirit and passion."

For a full list of nominees and categories, visit www.JerseyArts.com/Vote.

For 29 years, the New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera, a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization headquartered in Fort Lee, New Jersey, has been an integral part of the region's classical music culture. Led by Metropolitan Opera luminary Lucine Amara, Verismo Opera is the Bergen Performing Arts Center's house opera company. Verismo Opera provides performing opportunities for artists through semi-annual productions and concerts, directs an international vocal competition drawing artists worldwide, and organizes opera workshops and master classes.

For information, visit Verismo Opera's web site, www.verismopera.org; follow the company on Facebook, http://bit.ly/9JXTP8, or Twitter @NJVerismoOpera; or call (201) 886-0561.

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