At The Ford Plantation, Savannah Voice Festival’s  Executive Director, Maria Zouves, unveils a stunning new program for the second annual Festival which will take place from August 1^st -17^th 2014 in and around Savannah.

The 2014 Savannah Voice Festival not only introduces some big changes and new sponsors but also promises a return of audience favorites from the inaugural VOICE Festival which took place in 2013 and has already become a welcome addition to Savannah’s cultural scene and a fixture on the August calendar.

For the first time for the Festival, a production of Mozart’s masterpiece “Don Giovanni” will be staged at Christ Church in downtown Savannah on August 3^rd and 5^th, which will be sponsored by The Ford Plantation.  Other premier events include acclaimed Carnegie Hall couple, Jennifer Johnson Cano and Christopher Cano, performing a recital on August 2^nd, again at Christ Church.  Sponsors have already confirmed for the return of the Festival’s music trivia concert, “VOICES Out of a Hat” on August 9^th at Asbury Memorial Church sponsored for a second year by The Salt Table and the “Festival Finale – from Bizet to Broadway” at First Presbyterian Church on August 16^th with new sponsors, the Italian Society of Savannah, with other event sponsorships still available.

The Savannah Voice Festival is again partnering with the Westin Savannah Harbor, making it a Festival home for a second year.   The Westin will skillfully transform an area of their hotel into a vocal conservatory for the duration of the Festival and will host events including the return of “Death, by Aria I & II” to meet and hear the Festival artists, inspiring Master Classes with instruction by some of the greatest artists of all time, A Movie Night – this year screening Carmen, the Teen VOICE workshop and Showcase. Plus, new for 2014 – “Studio Opera Scenes” and “Opera Idol Competition”.

Also new for 2014 is the “VOICES Around the World” concert, which offers song repertoire from many nations, plus, a new and intimate “Salon Series”, which is a VOICE Society Members exclusive in association with St. John’s Episcopal Church on Macon Street in downtown Savannah. And of course, The Voice Festival would not be complete without the return of “VOICES of Sacred Song” at First Presbyterian Church.

An expanded community outreach program, now funded in part by Gulfstream, will remain an important part of the Festival as VOICExperience is committed to making the magic of the vocal arts accessible to everyone in society and in particular to training and inspiring young people. Bethesda Academy and Chatham County Schools as well as assisted living facilities are some of the recipients of this project. Some Festival events will be free with other events offering tickets from $18 - $65.  

Wrapping up the Festival is the elegant Gala Dinner Fundraiser which will take place on the evening of Sunday, August 17^th.  Details will be announced in the spring, including the 2014 recipient of the Sherrill Milnes VOICE Award.

Maria Zouves, Executive Director and joint founder of the Savannah VOICE Festival with Sherrill Milnes, an operatic legend and the most recorded American opera singer in history, says “We are very excited about this year’s program and immensely grateful to the people of Savannah who have embraced our mission and our music”.

Tickets go on sale to the general public in April 2014 and VOICE Society Members can enjoy exclusive events, early booking privileges, discounts with local businesses and a regular newsletter. Membership for the VOICE Society is $150 for individual members, $250 for couples and $300 for families. 

To join the VOICE Society, buy tickets for the 2014 Savannah VOICE Festival or for more information about the Savannah VOICE Festival, visit www.savannahvoicefestival.org, email [email protected] or call 855.76.OPERA.