The Savannah VOICE Festival is excited to ramp up community outreach efforts throughout November with the VOICES for Friends benefit concert, new educational programs at the Esther F. Garrison School of Visual and Performing Arts, as well as Encores & Entrees, which is an international journey in food, wine and song at Savannah Quarters Country Club.

VOICES for Friends will be held at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at at Skidaway Island United Methodist Church, 54 Diamond Causeway. The evening of opera, musical theatre and other classical pieces aims to raise money to support Savannah Friends of Music scholarship funds. SFM sponsors SVF’s community outreach programs and supports many other Savannah-area artists and musical organizations. Donations will be accepted at the door with a suggested donation of $25 for this great cause.

On Wednesday, Nov. 16, Garrison students will have the opportunity to learn how to create their own opera. Garrison, a National Blue Ribbon School with an emphasis on the arts, provides a learning environment to promote both artistic expression and academic success that engages learners, nurtures creativity, and builds community. SVF will teach students how to create their own opera by using Alice Ryley and their own upcoming performance of Amahl and the Night Visitors as guides for this exercise.

“Serving the community is a large part of the Savannah VOICE Festival’s mission,” said SVF Founder and Executive Director, Maria Zouves. “The festival would not be the success it is today without the support of the Savannah community and we recognize the importance of giving back.”

Encores and Entrees is slated for 6 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 17 in Pooler. Festival artists will entertain Savannah Quarters Country Club guests with opera, musical theatre and other selections designed to complement a four-course meal with expertly paired wine. Beautiful voices from around the globe will perform, plus world-class opera singers and SVF co-founders Maria Zouves and Sherrill Milnes will host the musical portion of the evening. The event is presented by The Salt Table and Savannah Quarters Country Club, located at 8 Palladian Way, Pooler.