Honoring and celebrating the Delaware Valley Opera Company on its Thirtieth Anniversary for its dedication to making opera affordable, bringing it to new audiences and providing a training ground for emerging singers in the tri-state area.

WHEREAS, The Delaware Valley Opera Company (DVOC) was started in 1979 to offer a stepping stone for singers and a training ground for emerging performers in the tri-state area through the exposure to all facets of operatic production and performance opportunities in a variety of operas. DVOC's Principal singers are professionals who have auditioned and become members of the reperetory company. Some of the singers who have gained artistic experience with the company have continued their careers nationally and internationally; and

WHEREAS, During its summer festivals the Delaware Valley Opera Company has provided the community with over a hundred performances of over fifty different operas over the past thirty years; and

WHEREAS, For most of its thirty years the Delaware Valley Opera Company has been located in the Roxborough section of the City, first housed in the Hermitage Mansion in Fairmount Park where volunteers built the the Paul D. Osimo Outdoor Theater behind the mansion. Since 2008 the company has been housed in Roxborough High School where it is decidicated to exposing the school community to the joys and grandeur of opera; and

WHEREAS, The opera company prides itself in being responsive to the neighborhood including recruiting local children for operatic productions such as La Boheme and the Land of Smiles; and

WHEREAS, The Delaware Valley Opera Company is also dedicated to bringing opera to new audiences by involving volunteers in its chorus, production crews and organization and by making performances affordable; now therefore

RESOLVED, BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby honors and celebrates the Delaware Valley Opera Company on its Thirtieth Anniversary, for its dedication to making opera affordable, bringing it to new audiences and providing a training ground for emerging singers in the tri-state area.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to Sandy Day, President of the Delaware Valley Opera Company as evidence of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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