It’s an exciting month at the Straz Center for the Performing Arts and the Tarpon Springs Performing Arts Center, with the Second Annual Vocal Arts Festival underway, in collaboration by Opera Tampa, the Patel Conservatory, V.O.I.C.Experience and the Tarpons Springs Cultural Treasures. It’s an amazing opportunity for young singers who are finding their way in the music world to take advantage of the expertise of world famous teachers and performers. The Vocal Arts Festival will be at The Straz Center through August 20^th. For ticket and performance information, please call 813-2229-STAR, and of course online at www.strazcenter.org, www.operatampa.org, or www.patelconservatory.org. And for more details on becoming a part of next year’s festival, visit www.voiceexperiencefoundation.com.

So you’re saying, Ann…what does singing have to do with Kelly’s Kitchen? A lot! Taking care of yourself physically is critical to the lovely instrument we call our voice. Soprano Maria Zouves, who has performed with the Baltimore Opera, Memphis Opera, the Florentine Opera and Orlando Opera among others, acts as the Vice President/Associate General Director of V.O.I.C.Experience, which she co-founded with her husband, the world-renowned Sherill Millnes who is also leading master classed during the festival.

Hear from Maria herself how she views the role of diet and exercise for singers of every age and class, and more about the Festival.

Words of Wisdom from Kelly’s Kitchen:

Hey yogurt, if you're so cultured, how come I never see you at the opera?  ~Attributed to Stephen Colbert