Savannah VOICE Festival (SVF) is looking forward to its 2020 Stay-at-Home Festival Season which kicks off Aug. 8 and ends on Aug. 22, with an anniversary Gala - all virtually. There will be eleven events, all broadcast at 7 p.m. EST, each a 45-minute variety show that includes music, comedy, educational moments and more. Social distancing has led to a global reach so everyone can enjoy SVF’s eighth season from the comfort and safety of their own living room. The festival will be free to stream for everybody who wants to watch and enjoy the beautiful voices even when theatres are closed due to the pandemic.  

SVF’s leaders and VOICE artists have become an important part of the cultural life of Savannah over the last eight years with many artists seeing Savannah as their artistic home. “We wanted to pay tribute to a city and community we love, so we have developed a series of Postcards from Savannah,” says Co-Founder and Executive Director of SVF, Maria Zouves. “This idea came about organically and now we can bring Savannah, Georgia to the whole world via our web based streaming service.  We want to make this eighth season especially meaningful for everybody, as we are all dealing with the impact of these extraordinary times. In many ways we have embarked on a brave new world for us and our classical artists -- building a virtual, eclectic content with performances that translate the VOICE concerts and experiences from stage to computer screen.” 

SVF has partnered with local community leaders and other cultural organizations to join in each of the eleven nights from iconic Savannah locations to bring Postcards from Savannah to viewers from around the globe. Mayor Van Johnson himself will kick off this stay-at-home season with his personal message for lovers of the vocal arts from around the world, inviting the world to visit this historic destination when the time is right. The series of Postcards from Savannah will feature people and places which make up the rich cultural life of Savannah. This virtual journey will communicate the unique vibe of the Hostess City to the wider world.

The eleven "variety" shows which make up the Stay-at-Home festival will contain musical videos, segments of interesting moments and experiences that are flavored with some southern charm. Festival favorites have been reformatted with technical expertise to develop impactful shows for online audiences. With over 500 minutes of new virtual content produced and streamed during the Festival time, the Stay-at-Home Season will feature recitals, concerts, an international song night, a virtual celebratory gala and moments with Maestro Sherrill Milnes.  

For more information and to support the festival, please visit www.savannahvoicefestival.org or call 855.766.7273.

 SAVANNAH VOICE FESTIVAL SCHEDULE 2020 

“We have a VOICE” - Stay at Home with Season VIII

SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 7pm

We have a VOICE

A Festival Kick-off

In the midst of all else, art has a Virtual VOICE with the Savannah VOICE Festival Online. The Stay-at-Home 8th Season kicks off in your own living room to stream and enjoy beautiful voices that will not be silenced even when theaters are. Join us to launch a fun and meaningful season!

SUNDAY, AUGUST 9, 7pm

#FairyTales Tonight!

You’ve heard the stories before but enjoy them again in the comfort of your own home. Through the lens of the Milnes VOICE Programs, musical versions of your favorite tales remind you why the voice can tell a great story through song.

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 7pm

Death, by Aria

The Milnes VOICE Studio has been in session for 20 years each summer, training hundreds of artists in the excellence of the classical vocal arts. This concert introduces the emerging artists of this season's intensive, so join in on the introductions!

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 12, 7pm

Masters in VOICE I

American Aria: An Evening with Sherrill Milnes

A voice that hasn’t gone silent in over five decades, Milnes will take a trip down memory lane and brings some special friends along for the ride.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 14, 7pm

Mozart@Home

One of the most known and beloved “voices” in classical music, Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart is celebrated in opera and song on a very special night of his compositions and his influences on the artistic world.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 15, 7pm

Festival in Recital: Emily Yocum Black, soprano

Emily returns to the virtual format with SVF in a full recital from her home in Kentucky. With songs that celebrate art and how it relates to her world.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 16, 7pm

Shooting Stars

Artists, like art, contribute so much to our communities. They need to launch, even in a time when the stages are dark. SVF introduces new talent from the VOICE programs in mini concert segments, giving them a moment to stream… and shine! 

TUESDAY, AUGUST 18, 7pm

VOICES in Meaningful Song

From Sacred to Art Song and much more, SVF shares some of the most beloved songs of inspiration from around the world and back again.

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 19, 7pm

Masters in VOICE II

In honor of the work - with composer Michael Ching and Friends

Ching, SVF’s composer-in-residence, interviews other composers and shares their work, as well as his own in opera and song.

FRIDAY, AUGUST 21, 7pm

Virtual Broadway: An on-line Parody

Take a trip through music you recognize from the great white way, streamed in parody and jest.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 22, 7pm

VOICE Gala - a 20th Anniversary Celebration

From the year 2000 to now, the Milnes VOICE Programs have been inspiring artists and audiences to keep the legacy of great singing alive. In this outlying time in the performing arts, VOICExperience and the Savannah VOICE Festival celebrates its collaboration and legacy with some moments from years past and great music from the artists of the season. DON’T MISS A NOTE OF THE SEASON FINALE!