Arielle Rogers: Winner of Collegiate Vocal Competion

Woonsocket native and mezzo-soprano, Arielle Rogers, is a winner of the 3rd Annual Rhode Island Civic Chorale and Orchestra (RICCO) Collegiate Vocal Competition. 

The competition was held Jan. 28 and four winners were chosen, one from each vocal category - Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Tenor and Baritone.  Arielle performed the famed aria "Che Faro Senza Euridice?" from Orfeo ed Euridice by Christophe Willibald Gluck.  The winners will be presented in a special March concert of the RICCO entitled "The British Are Coming."  For Arielle, this will be a special concert, for she will be singing solo for the first time with a full orchestra subsequently making her RICCO debut.

Arielle is currently a sophomore at Rhode Island College (RIC) where she is majoring in Music Performance with a concentration in opera and minoring in Italian.  While only in her second year, she has already had the great opportunity to perform in several master classes for such great artists as Maria Spacagna, John Relyea, Mary Phillips, John Mario DiCostanzo, Diana McVey and Dr. Edward Markward.

So what is this young girl from Woonsocket aspiring to do?  Her goal and dream is to sing on the great operatic stages of the world including the world renown New York Metropolitan Opera.  Her mother, Jeanne and her younger sister Zoe, both support her in this great dream and remark how determined she is.

Arielle is a 2009 graduate of Woonsocket High School (WHS) and may following in the footsteps of another WHS graduate - soprano, Eileen Farrell.  Ms. Farrell's operatic career spanded the globe, singing in many of the great opera houses including the Metropolitan Opera.  And here is another connection.  Arielle's voice teacher at RIC, Georgette Hutchins, also has experience singing at the Metropolitan Opera.  Insperation and guidance seem to be all around this young up and coming singer.

We will watch her as her voice grows and she ascends the ladder of success and watch her transformation from student to consummate professional.

With this article is an audio clip and pictures of Arielle Rogers singing Gounod's "Ave Maria" inside the beautiful St. Ann Arts and Cultural Center.

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