Call for Christine

Symphony holds community audition for New Year's Eve Gala Vocalist

PHOENIX - Are you the next "Christine"? Win a chance to sing the role of "Christine" from Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. The Phoenix Symphony is hosting a statewide competition for the opportunity to sing at their annual New Year's Eve Gala, one of the Valley's premier social events. The proceeds from the Gala help support the Symphony's Education and Artistic Programs which are dedicated to providing music education and learning opportunities for music lovers of all ages and backgrounds.

The vocal competition is open to female Arizona residents ages 8 through 18 years old. Semi-finalists and finalists will perform in front of a panel of celebrity judges. The winner of the competition will perform "All I Ask of You" live with The Phoenix Symphony and Franc D'Ambrosio, the "World's Longest Running 'Phantom'". A fellowship will be awarded to the winner including season tickets to The Phoenix Symphony Classics Concerts series, a monetary gift and vocal coaching sessions. Entries are now being accepted for this once in a lifetime performance opportunity.

For detailed contest information and official entry form visit our Special Events page.

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About Franc D'Ambrosio: Franc D'Ambrosio, a multifaceted vocalist, is best known for his role as the "Phantom" in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera. Being the youngest "Phantom" ever cast, D'Ambrosio has performed the part of the "masked man" close to 3,000 times. He is now known as the "World's Longest Running 'Phantom'" due to the uniquely large amount of performances of this role. While cast in The Phantom of the Opera he spent a year and a half on the road with the Original National Tour and five years with the production in San Francisco's famed Curran Theater.

After his run in the musical, D'Ambrosio stared as the male lead, "Tony", in the pre-Broadway tour of Copacabana. Later, he moved from stage to silver screen when cast in the role of "Anthony Corleone", the opera-singing son of "Michael Corleone" played by Al Pacino in the seven-time Academy Award nominated film The Godfather: Part III. With this role he sang the Academy Award winning theme song, "Speak Softly Love" (Brucia la Terra) on the Original Motion Picture Soundtrack. When filming for The Godfather, D'Ambrosio met and later studied with Luciano Pavarotti in Italy. Throughout his career, D'Ambrosio has been recognized for many awards including, an Academy Award nominated film, three Emmy award nominated television shows, two Grammy considerations, and a National Theatre Award nomination for his stage work.

His television appearances include "Entertainment Tonight", "MTV's Spotlight", & "Access Hollywood" (as the red carpet correspondent for coverage of the opening night for the film version of The Phantom of the Opera). D'Ambrosio also appeared on a CD titled "In Good Company" (LML Music) which released spring 2005 and received the 2006 Mac Award.

Franc D'Ambrosio has had a successful solo career with a 3 year, 200 city, sold-out national tour for his one man show "Franc D'Ambrosio's Broadway" - a celebration of the music that established Broadway as an American art form. His new show, "Franc D'Ambrosio's Hollywood", debuted in the spring of 2007, at the world famous Plush Room in San Francisco sold out the three week run. D'Ambrosio kicked off 2008 by co-starring with Dorothy Hamill in the critically acclaimed "Broadway On Ice", produced by Bietak Productions, Inc.

About The Phoenix Symphony: The Phoenix Symphony has been proudly serving the citizens of the Phoenix metropolitan area and Arizona since 1947. What began as an occasional group of musicians performing a handful of concerts each year (in a city of fewer than 100,000 people) today serves more than 300,000 people annually, with 275 concerts and presentations throughout the greater Phoenix area and beyond.

Under the artistic leadership of Michael Christie as the Virginia G. Piper Music Director and administrative leadership of President and CEO Maryellen H. Gleason, the orchestra is overseen by the non-profit Phoenix Symphony Association under Board Chairman Ed Wolf.

The 76-member Phoenix Symphony presents an annual season from September through the beginning of June, featuring full-length classical and pops concerts at Symphony Hall in downtown Phoenix, as well as concerts in Scottsdale, Mesa, Tempe, Prescott and throughout central Arizona. The Symphony performs for more than 50,000 students and children, helping to introduce music to new generations through a variety of education and youth-engagement programs.