Donasco Places Second at Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition
 
Dee Donasco, a junior music student at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi, won second place in the Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition last weekend.

Since 1987, the Dallas Opera Guild has sponsored the prestigious competition for young singers seeking a professional career in opera. As the second place winner, Donasco received $5,000. Judges included internationally-renowned soprano Mary Jane Johnston, Robert Mauro, assistant artistic director of the Michigan Opera Theater, Jonathan Pell, director of artistic administration for the Dallas Opera and Lenore Rosenberg, associate artistic administrator for the Metropolitan Opera.

“The competition was incredibly impressive as the singers came from some of the really fine music schools from across the state but Dee sang beautifully with authenticity and a full and open heart,” said Professor Flicka Rahn, Donasco’s professor and vocal coach.

Donasco, who has a double major in vocal music performance and pre-med/biology, is a frequent soloist at commencements and other Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi events. In March of 2006, she was awarded first place in the Young Artists’ Competition in San Antonio. She has also appeared numerous times with the Corpus Christi Symphony Orchestra as the featured soloist in the annual Christmas Holiday Concerts. She has been a member of the Corpus Christi Cathedral Pontifical Choir for nine years.

Donasco was born and raised in the Philippines and, at age 10, won the National Music Competition for Young Artists of the Philippines. She moved to the United States at the age of 13 and in 2003 became a U.S. citizen. She is pursuing a double major in vocal music performance and pre-med/biology with a minor in chemistry. She plans to pursue a career on the concert and opera stage.