Back to All Events

Fall Benefit Celebration - "A Highly Opinionated History of Opera"

  • American Irish Historical Society 991 5th Avenue New York, NY, 10028 United States (map)

The Fall Benefit Celebration at the American Irish Historical Society will support the Royal Irish Academy of Music’s Opera Angels fund.

Join Royal Irish Academy of Music Director, Deborah Kelleher and two of RIAM's young operatic stars, along with special guests, on Thursday, October 18th for an evening which explores the magical world of opera.

Deborah's vivacious commentary will ignite those moments, both sublime and ridiculous, that are to found in this Emperor of all art forms. Illuminating her insights, the young performers will perform popular excerpts from operas by Handel, Mozart, Donizetti, Purcell and Ireland's own opera composer, Michael Balfe.

Young next generation opera singers from the Royal Irish Academy of Music will perform at our Fall Benefit Celebration, including:

Clodagh Kinsella, soprano

Winner of the 2017 Irene Sanford Singing Competition

Clodagh Kinsella

Clodagh Kinsella

James McCreanor, tenor

RIAM’s “Count Belfiore” in its recent production of Mozart’s opera “La Finta Giardiniera”

James McCreanor

James McCreanor

The proceeds of this event will go towards the RIAM Opera Angels Program, which funds two fully staged opera productions in Dublin annually, tours opera around Ireland and awards scholarships to exceptionally talented students in our vocal department.

Generations of stellar opera artists launched their careers with RIAM and we now need your investment to continue our proud tradition. Our alumni appear on prominent opera stages throughout the world and share the joy of music through performance, as well as through educating the next generation of promising singers and arts audiences.

The Royal Irish Academy of Music has committed an additional $75,000 of match funding per annum for the coming years towards expanding our opera studies programme and vocal productions. Your support will make all the difference.

We are very grateful to Michael & Margaret Brewster and Patrick & Schuyler McBrien for generously underwriting our Fall Benefit Celebration.

We would also like to thank the American Irish Historical Society for their support.

A cocktail and Hors d’Oeuvres reception will precede the performance, which will be approximately 60 minutes in duration.

Book Tickets or Make a Donation

Ticket levels are as follows:

  • Diamond - $5,000: You're a key investor in a new opera production

  • Platinum - $2,000: You're right in the heart of the action

  • Gold - $1,000: We can't do without you

  • Silver - $500: You're making this happen

  • Bronze - $250: You've got a ticket to the opera

  • Bright Young Thing (under 30s) - $100.00: We've got our eye on you

If you cannot attend the event but would still like to make a donation, please select tickets to the value of your donation and then check the relevant box after clicking “Checkout”.

TICKETS NO LONGER ON SALE - DONATE HERE

Deborah Kelleher, Director, Royal Irish Academy of MusicPhoto credit: James Higgins

Deborah Kelleher, Director, Royal Irish Academy of Music

Photo credit: James Higgins

Later Event: May 22
2019 Spring Benefit Celebration