JEANETTE VECCHIONE: FROM THE BASKETBALL COURT TO THE OPERA STAGE: Testimony of a Christian Athlete turned Soprano

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JEANETTE VECCHIONE, a 24-year-old opera singer from New York, will address the theme: "FROM THE BASKETBALL COURT TO THE OPERA STAGE: Testimony of a Christian Athlete turned Soprano".

Jeannette Vecchione, daughter of Pastor Tony & Christine Vecchione of Ridge Full Gospel Christian Church in Eastern Suffolk County, Long Island, joins host PASTOR JIM CAPO of the Massapequa Church of God on Long Island, to discuss this fascinating story of God's change in direction in the career of an extremely talented woman gifted athletically and musically.

Jeanette will make her operatic debut at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis this summer as the role of Florestine in John Corigliano's Ghosts of Versailles. In 2011, Jeanette will sing the Queen of the Night in Mozart's Magic Flute at Vienna State Opera , the Theatre des Champs Elysees , and Oper Cologne. In 2012, Jeanette will sing a new production of Mozart's Abduction of the Seraglio as the role of Constanza at Oper Cologne.

Jeanette graduated from The Juilliard School in May 2006 and was reaccepted into the Master’s Program on full scholarship. She studies under the tutelage of Marlena Malas. Jeanette was involved in many operas at The Juilliard School as well as the Chautauqua Institution . Some of these roles include Madame Herz in Mozart’s Impresario, Olympia in Les Contes d'Hoffmann, Zerbinetta in Ariadne auf Naxos, Queen of the Night in Die Zauberflote, Clorinda in Il Combattimento di Tancredi e Clorinda, Despina in Cosi fan tutte, Barbarina in Le Nozze di Figaro, and covered the role of Le Comtesse in Le Comte Ory and the title role in Le Rossignol.

Jeanette had the honors of coaching Die Zauberflote with the late Walter Toussig at The Metropolitan Opera in 2002. Jeanette sang and coached with Luciano Pavarotti in September 2005. She recently won 2nd place in the National Opera Association , 1st place in the Mario Lanza Competition of Philadelphia, an encouragement award in the Opera Index Competition and in the prestigious George London competition, 1st place in the Gerda Lissner Competition, 1st place in the National Bel Canto Competition, 4th place in the National Palm Beach Opera Competition, 2 time prize winner of the Licia-Albanese Puccini Competition, 2nd place in the International Giulio Gari Competition, a finalist in the International Mario Lanza Competition of Katia Ricciarelli in Filignano, Italy won 3rd place at the International Opera Competition of Riccardo Zandonai in Riva del Garda, Italy and also won a special prize to return to Italy to participate in the masterclasses with Riva del Garda's Music Festival Director Mietta Sighele.

Jeanette graduated from The Juilliard School in May 2008 then went off to sing at the Opera Theatre of St. Louis. She had only begun singing opera 5 months before auditioning for The Juilliard School. Alongside her singing, Jeanette, who was known at the time as “Jeanette Baxter,” was a 3 time all-league, all-county, all-tournament player and was noted as one of the best basketball players in New York State. She received letters of intent from many National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I colleges from around the country including Georgetown University, University of Pennsylvania, University of Tennessee, and many other great women’s basketball schools.

Jeanette was also a top New York State shotput and discus thrower in track and field. She was “discovered” as an opera singer by her chorus teacher, Ellen Levine who heard her joking around after class. Ms. Levine encouraged Jeanette to continue singing and so she did with auditioning and being accepted into The Juilliard School on full scholarship. This story was recognized by NBC’s "The Today Show", CBS News , and ESPN’s "Cold Pizza".

Jeanette Vecchione's personal web site is: http://www.myspace.com/jeanettevecchione