After 17 years, the Vann Vocal Institute–a program of the Montgomery Symphony Association–will cease operations after a free concert for the public on Saturday October 5 (7:00 p.m.) at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art (MMFA). The farewell event will feature artists that have been part of the Institute’s world-class faculty since 2007.
Internationally acclaimed opera singer David Cangelosi, the Institute’s Artistic/Program Director since its inception, is extremely proud that the program has instructed hundreds of students who wished to learn the finer points of the classical vocal arts. Cangelosi said, “It has been the honor of a lifetime to bring the greatest opera stars and musical conductors to the City of Montgomery to teach these incredibly talented and artistically thirsty students. We taught them free-of-charge, presented timely lectures, fed them, provided stipends to defray any expenses, and awarded tens of thousands of dollars in career grants and prize money.” Cangelosi is also thrilled to have provided free concerts for the public each year, starring his world-class faculty, as a kick-off to the Institute’s educational component.
When asked why the Institute is closing its doors, Cangelosi stated that “legacy funds have simply been exhausted, and replacement dollars could not be secured”. The Institute has been privately resourced since its founding. Cangelosi continued: “With the deaths of two major Chicago-based donors, and the subsequent closing of their Arts Foundations, we knew it would be difficult to locate this level of funding going forward. Additionally, with the untimely passing of Jim Wilson (Jim Wilson & Associates, LLC) in 2023, a major Montgomery based philanthropist and friend of Vann Vocal, I knew that it was time to say goodbye.”
Cangelosi acknowledged his long-time association with J. Cameron West (President Emeritus, Huntingdon College) for assisting the Institute by providing it a home on the Huntingdon campus for many years, where Cangelosi also served as ‘Distinguished Artist-in-Residence’.
Cangelosi made his first appearance with the Montgomery Symphony in 1995 and has always considered Montgomery Alabama his adopted hometown. He also credits the Institute’s success to his decade’s-long friendship with Montgomery residents Charles and Winifred Stakely and Joe and Charlotte Mussafer, long-time Vann Vocal supporters.