The annual Amelia Rieman Opera Competition will take place on Sunday, March 18, 2018 at 1:00 p.m. in Holsclaw Hall. The competition is divided into two groups, ages 18-23, and 24-40. Both undergraduate and graduate students from the various UA voice studios will compete for the scholarships granted by the competition.
Amelia Tataronis (Rieman) was born in Lawrence, Massachusetts on November 26, 1906. An excellent student who loved to read, play the piano and sing, Amelia eventually became the co-valedictorian of her high school class and was given the highest award for her music activities. As a teenager she eventually secured a position accompanying a dance and exercise class at the YMCA, in order to save money for college. Here it was that a local doctor, who enjoyed the aerobics class befriended Amelia and, anonymously, paid for Amelia’s tuition at Radcliff College, where she had been accepted into the music program. Later in life, she discovered the name of her patron and endowed a scholarship at Harvard to honor this man. Amelia went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in 1929 and her master’s in 1932.
Her interest in the University of Arizona began in 1988 when she saw a newspaper article concerning the School of Music. She contacted the director (Dr. David Woods) and after informing him of her love of opera, Dr. Josef Knott (then director of the opera program) encouraged her to establish the Rieman Opera Competition with an endowment guaranteeing its perpetual existence. For many years she served as one of the judges.
It was in 2000 that Mrs. Rieman decided to establish the Rieman Chair in Opera with an endowment that also provides students with scholarships and supports master classes, opera performances, and aids in raising the quality of opera productions. In addition to her support of our opera activities, she left a considerable endowment to her alma mater and Lehigh University.
Amelia was a colorful character, she loved a good joke and especially loved listening to classical music and opera. It was on April 25, 2009 that we lost our beloved benefactor. She will be greatly missed!
Previous Winners of the Rieman Opera Competition:
2017
Group I
1st Place: Emma Petersen
2nd Place: TaylorTrolia- Giron
3rd Place: Emily Garcia
Group II
1st Place: Kyle DeGraff
2nd Place: Michelle Perrier
3rd Place: Ariana iniguez
2016
Group I
1st Michelle Perrier
2nd Tony Cruz
3rd Taylor Lewis
Group II
1st Samantha Luna
2nd Caroline Crawford
3rd Bryce Tomlin
2015
Group I
1st Caroline Crawford
2nd James Mendola
3rd Kehui Wu
Group II
1st Clare Demer
2nd Erin McMullen
3rd Jacqueline Black
2014
Group I
1st Ariana Iniguez
2nd Erin McMullen
3rd Laura Broscow
Group II
1st Jenina Gallaway and Humberto Borboa
2nd Dori Smith
3rd Ivette Ortiz
2013
Group I
1st Clare Demer
2nd Kendi Van De garaf
3rd (tie) Caroline Crawford and Brandon Dale
Group II
1st Kaitrin Cunningham
2nd Christy McClarty
3rd Jenina Gallawya
2012
Group I
1st Jovahnna Anderson
2nd Victoria McKean
3rd Emily Spirk
Group II
1st Sun Young Lee
2nd Christy McClarty
3rd Dori Smith
2011
Group I
1st Asleif Wilmer
2nd Gabriella Carillo
3rd Kyle Connor
Group II
1st Seth Kershisnik
2nd Dori Smith
3rd Cristy McClarty
Honorable Mention Yunnie Park
2010
Group I
1st Erika Burkhart
2nd Kyle Connor
3rd Asleif Willmer (tie)
3rd Gabriella Carillo (tie)
Group II
1st Jenny Beauregard
2nd Yunnie Park
3rd April Amante (tie)
3rd Seth Kershisnik (tie)
2009
Group I
1st Seth Kershisnik
2nd Erika Burkhart
3rd Kaitlin Burtenshaw
Group II
1st Brian Witkowski
2nd Greg Guenther
3rd Katherine Wells
2008
1st Christopher Hutchinson
2nd Nikki Douglas
3rd Ashleigh Guida
Group II
1st Adam Shelton
2nd Meray Boustani
3rd Dennis Tamblyn
2007
Group I
1st Meray Boustani
2nd Ashleigh Guida
3rd Jon Patton
Group II
1st Cynthia Ortiz
2nd Robb Harrison
3rd Nathan Krueger
2006
1st Chloe Hunter
2nd Kara Harris
3rd Maritza Martinez
Group II
1st Anishka Lee-Skorepa
2nd Tammi Huber
3rd Nathan Krueger
