The New Jersey Association of Verismo Opera has been nominated for Favorite Opera Company in the 2018 JerseyArts.com People’s Choice Awards. The awards program, headed by Discover Jersey Arts, is in its 10^th year of celebrating the organizations of New Jersey that work in devotion to the arts.

“Our state is rich with cultural and artistic opportunities,” says 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.”

This year, there are 116 organization and 11 arts districts competing in 18 categories, such as Small Theatre, Music Festival, Ballet Company, and Favorite Opera Company. Voters, living in New Jersey or elsewhere, are able to cast their ballots online. Nearly 18,000 lovers of the arts made their voices heard during last year’s awards and even more are expected to do so this year. Nick Paleologos, Executive Director of the New Jersey State Council on the Arts, says “Fans of the New Jersey arts scene are passionate and loyal, and for good reason. 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.”

Lucine Amara says: “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.”