Soprano From Fullerton Wins Vocal Art Award

The Richard Tucker Foundation of New York City has given its annual award for vocal art to Deborah Voigt, a Fullerton native. The $30,000 award--$5,000 more than last year’s--honors someone whom the judges feel is poised to have a major national and international career.

For the first time, the award was not preceded by a formal competition. The judges explained that in the past, fine singers have been not been eligible for the award because geographic concerns or work commitments kept them from competing.

The judges’ choice of Voigt was unanimous.

The 31-year-old soprano, who has lived in New York since 1987, made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera in New York in October as Amelia in Verdi’s “Un Ballo in Maschera.” In 1990, she won the gold medal at the 1990 Tchaikovsky International Competition in Moscow. She will sing Chrysothemis in a new production of Strauss’ “Elektra” at the Met on March 26.

She attended Cal State Fullerton as a music major but left in 1984 to accept a scholarship to a San Francisco Opera training program. She returned to her alma mater in 1985 to sing the role of Donna Anna in Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.” Since then, she has been heard locally in several recitals.