The 22nd annual Italian Idol singing competition will once again take place at Wagner College on Friday, Oct. 24, at 5 p.m. in the Music Performance Center in Campus Hall.
Since its founding in 2003 by Professor Emeritus Dr. Roger Wesby, the competition has been supported by the DaVinci Society, which has helped elevate Italian Idol into a prestigious event within Wagner’s incredibly musically talented campus. In 2019, the Licia Albanese-Puccini Foundation contributed $50,000, and the competition is now officially titled the Italian Idol Singing Competition at Wagner College in Memory of Licia Albanese.
Open to Wagner sophomore, junior, and senior voice students, the competition celebrates Italian songs and arias, with students competing for cash prizes ranging from $4,000 for first prize to a $1,000 prize for honorable mention.
As per tradition, a panel of professional opera singers, voice teachers, coaches, and critics will serve as judges,the distinguished panel for 2025 are:
- Diana Solomon-Glover: International operatic soprano, librettist, journalist
- Patrice P. Eaton: International operatic mezzo soprano, Syracuse Opera, Connecticut Opera, American Opera Projects, Edinburgh International Festival, Vienna Arts Festival, Jazz at Lincoln Center
- Larry Marshall: Broadway veteran, Grammy winner, Tony nominee, film actor, stage director
The Italian Idol competition remains a highlight of Wagner’s musical calendar, honoring both the talents of its students and the cultural heritage of Italian music.
Professor Anthony Turner, curator of the event, believes its importance cannot be overstated: "Singers, through song, give voice to those who struggle to express themselves. Music creates a shared human experience."
