Symphony gets grant
for vocalists

By Tim Ryan
Star-Bulletin

The Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation Inc., has made a $25,000 gift to the Honolulu Symphony to create the Orvis Vocal Artists Residency of the Honolulu Symphony for sponsorship of an annual 1O-day residency of an established vocalist(s).

The inaugural 1998-99 residency will feature world renown vocalists Florence Quivar and Anthony Dean Griffey with the orchestra in Mahler's Das Lied von der Erde at 4 p.m. Jan. 1O, and 4 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. Jan. 12 at the Blaisdell Concert Hall.

In addition to a pair of subscription concerts with the orchestra, the singers chosen by mutual agreement between the Honolulu Symphony, Hawaii Opera Theatre and University of Hawaii will provide master classes for young singers living in Hawaii who infrequently have the opportunity to hear or study with such artists.

"The grant will be a tremendous support to the Honolulu Symphony, the Hawaii Opera Theatre and the University of Hawaii's ongoing efforts to bring world class vocalists to Hawaii," said Michael Tiknis, Honolulu Symphony executive director. "The creation of permanent vocal performance and residency programs which bring such talented performers like Florence Quivar and Anthony Dean Griffey to our performing arts community is a milestone for our orchestra and Hawaii."

If successful, the Arthur and Mae Orvis Foundation will provide a similar level of funding for the next three years, he said.

Renowned for her vibrantly rich mezzo-soprano voice, Florence Quivar is considered one of America's most distinguished artists. She's a regular guest of the world's leading opera companies, orchestras and music festivals.

A native of Philadelphia, Quivar is a graduate of the Philadelphia Academy of Music and a former member of the Juilliard Opera Theatre. She's a winner of the National Opera Institute Award, the Baltimore Lyric Opera Competition and the Marian Anderson Vocal Competition.

Anthony Dean Griffey is a native of North Carolina who has captured critical and popular acclaim with leading opera theaters and symphony orchestras. The combination of his clarion tenor voice, a gift for exceptional communication and excellent musicianship has earned him prominent engagements throughout the world.

Last year, Griffey made his major role debut with the Metropolitan Opera in a highly acclaimed performance of the title role in "Peter Grimes," and this summer he returned to Lincoln Center for his first performance of the title role in "Idomeneo" with the Mostly Mozart Festival.

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