TENOR MICHAEL FABIANO OF NEW JERSEY WINS 3RD ANNUAL SORRENTO CHEESE MARIO LANZA VOCAL COMPETITION IN
LITTLE ITALY

Michael Fabiano, an accomplished your tenor from New Jersey, won the 3rd Annual Sorrento Cheese Mario Lanza Vocal Competition which took place under a blazing sun on Saturday afternoon, July 29, 2006 on the Sorrento Cheese Performance Stage on Mulberry Street in Little Italy. Fabiano beat out ten other fabulous singers, including Patric B. Hale and Tony Kim, who finished in second and third place, respectively, in the hotly contested event that is part of the annual Sorrento Cheese Summer in Little Italy celebration.

Each of the 11 contestants performed two songs each, with acclaimed vocal coach and conductor David Maiullo supporting them on the keyboard. The top three finalists were chosen by a distinguished jury that included noted conductor Richard Barrett; film and TV producer Sonny Grosso; vocal coach Katherine Johnson, who operates a Music School and Theater in Coregliano, Italy; multi Grammy Award-winning music producer and composer Phil Ramone; and William J. Ronayne, President of The Mario Lanza Society of New York; Tenor Dominic Mantuano emceed the event and also performed several musical numbers.

The three finalists returned the following afternoon and performed a two-hour free concert that was cheered by several hundred opera fans and music lovers.