(Credit: Marty Sohl / Metropolitan Opera)

The Giulio Gari Foundation is set to showcase the Winners of the 2019 International Vocal Competition Concert on Oct. 20, 2019 at the New York Athletic Club.

The event will be hosted by Ken Benson and Scott Barnes and soprano Lisette Oropesa and Mignon Dunn will be get Artist Excellence Awards while Raquel Suarez Groen will receive the Alumni Achievement Award.

Per the organization’s official website, “The Giulio Gari Foundation (a nYS 501c3) is dedicated to nurturing, mentoring and promoting young classical singers as they launch their careers. The non-profit organization also provides scholar-ships and study grants and introduces them to the public through live concerts and online digital video. in so doing it is building on the legacy of the tenor Giulio Gari who helped and encouraged young singers throughout his long illustrious career.” The organization was created in 2002 by Gari’s wife.

Gari was a versatile tenor who performed over 55 lyric and dramatic roles. He performed at the New York City Opera and Met Opera in the 1940s, 50s, and early 60s. He would eventually become the director of the Voice Department at the Long Island Institute of Music and eventually joined the faculty of the Curtis Institute of Music and Temple University.