PRESS RELEASE
For Immediate Release
March 26, 2006

Filipino Opera Singers Rushed To Aid "Aida"

Orange County, California: 

When Opera Pacific cast its upcoming production of Verdi's "Aida," they somehow 
overlooked a small "Ethiopian Chorus" that appears in the second act of the opera. 
Worse yet, the chorus needed to be comprised of brown-skinned singers (normally an 
all-black chorus).

Working on a tip, they met with and promptly recruited Philippine-born soprano 
Melody Versoza (a local vocal instructor and soloist), then asked if she could 
find more singers for the chorus. This was not an easy task as many of the 
singers she knows were already tied up with Easter obligations.

Melody was able to recruit longtime friend operatic Filipino-American tenor Marius 
Evangelista, a Special Education teacher at Western High in Anaheim. Melody has 
known Marius since their days in the Cal State Fullerton Opera program.

Melody was not able to recruit other Filipino singers she knows, but she was able 
to find enough singers to form a small "Ethiopian Chorus" of 14.

Melody and her gang will appear in the second act of "Aida" performed by Opera 
Pacific at the Orange County Performing Arts Center April 18 - 23, 2006.

Melody and tenor Marius Evangelista can be heard at Marius's Web site at 
www.MariusEvangelista.com.

End

Contact: 
Andre Evangelista
aebroadband@ca.rr.com