Christina and Louis Quilico Awards

Baritone Adrian Kramer wins top prize in the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards

From left to right: Adrian Kramer (first prize), Ileana Montalbetti (second prize), Christopher Enns (third prize).

Toronto, April 21, 2011 – The Ontario Arts Foundation today announced baritone Adrian Kramer from the Canadian Opera Company’s (COC) Ensemble Studio as this year’s top recipient of the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards, valued at $5,000. Soprano Ileana Montalbetti won the second prize of $3,000 and tenor Christopher Enns won the third prize of $2,000.  The awards recognize excellence in a vocal competition.

From Left to right: Judges Alexander Neef, John Hess and David Speers.

The winners were announced directly after the competition held in Toronto at the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts last Wednesday, April 20 where members of the COC Ensemble Studio competed by singing arias in front of judges Alexander Neef, General Director of the COC, David Speers, Artistic Director of Opera Hamilton, and John Hess, Co-Artistic Director of Queen of Puddings Music Theatre. 

Baritone Adrian Kramer, first prize winner

An accomplished singer, Adrian has been heard in recital at venues such as Carnegie Hall, the Kimmel Center and the Kennedy Center.  Adrian appears with the COC as the Hotel Waiter in Death in Venice, Papageno in the Ensemble Studio performance of The Magic Flute and the Wig Maker in Ariadne auf Naxos. He has performed with Glimmerglass Opera, the Castleton Festival, and the Opera Company of Philadelphia. Adrian holds a bachelor of music from the Juilliard School, a master’s degree from the Curtis Institute of Music in Philadelphia, and was the winner of the Juilliard Honors Recital Competition (2005).

About the Christina and Louis Quilico Awards

Pianist Christina Petrowska Quilico established the Christina and Louis Quilico Fund to honour the memory of her late husband, renowned baritone Louis Quilico.  The Christina and Louis Quilico Awards recognizes outstanding young singers, pianists, and composers for voice.  The Foundation manages the selection process.

Past Recipients

2008    

First prize - Alexander Hajek, baritone

Second prize - Michael Uloth, bass

Third prize - Maghan Stewart, soprano

2006

First prize - Sonja Gustafson, soprano

Second prize - Philip Carmichael, baritone

Third prize - Lawrence J. Wiliford, tenor

Encouragement award - Justin Welsh, baritone

2003

First prize - Sinead Sugrue, coloratura soprano

Second prize - Miriam Khalil, soprano

Third prize - Ramona Carmelly, mezzo soprano