This concert promises to be a fabulous event featuring the glorious, operatic tenor voice of Sam Vitale, accompanied by acclaimed pianist, Sumter's own Jane Luther Smith.

The evening will feature many songs and arias associated with the great American tenor, Mario Lanza. Sam and Jane will take the audience on a romantic journey from Hollywood, to Broadway and Italy with such favorites as "Be My Love," "O Sole Mio," and songs from the Phantom of the Opera, as well as the thrilling "Nessun Dorma."

Sam Vitale is one of the members of the Sicilian Tenors, best known for their appearances on "America's Got Talent," as well as at Carnegie Hall and other concert halls around the country. Sam and his friend and colleague, Jane Luther Smith, a music professor at the University of South Carolina, Sumter, will perform a variety of songs made popular by Mario Lanza.

Sam is a graduate of the University of Michigan School of Music. Following that, he studied under the late Maestro Luigi Veccia, in New York City. Sam has performed the lead tenor roles in "Carmen," "La Traviata," "Tosca," "L'Elisir d'Amore," "The Phantom of the Opera," "Don Giovanni" (performed in Cortona, Italy), and "Pagliacci," which he performed in English this summer in Maryland. Sam is the president of the award-winning Complete Document Solutions, Maryland LLC. He is a proud Air Force veteran of Desert Storm.

Jane Luther Smith is on the music faculty at the University of South Carolina, Sumter. She received the Licentiate Performer's Diploma in piano from London's Royal Academy of Music and both her Bachelor's and Master's music degrees (cum laude Phi Beta Kappa) from the University of South Carolina.

Her experience as a performer has been varied, including appearances in England, Colorado, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Georgia, Texas, California, Minnesota, and Canada. She has been a featured performer both on the South Carolina Educational TV and Radio networks. In addition to her demand as a solo recitalist and educator, she has taught Music Fundamentals for Central Carolina Technical College and is the owner of Jane Luther Smith Piano Studios in Sumter.

The concert will consist of selections from the great opera singer, Mario Lanza. Mario Lanza was born in Philadelphia as Alfredo Arnold Cocozza on January 31, 1921, to Italian immigrants. Known as 'Freddie,' he was raised in an atmosphere of opera and Enrico Caruso recordings, and began to sing along. His parents took him to a voice teacher to nurture his voice. Soon, an audition was arranged with the famed conductor Serge Koussevitsky. He was so impressed that he invited Mario to a music school for promising singers and musicians. Mario was cast as Fenton in The Merry Wives of Windsor and earned rave reviews.

Mario served in the US Army during World War II, and in January 1945 returned stateside to New York and continued his vocal studies. There he met Sam Weiler who became his manager. He then teamed with soprano Frances Yeend and baritone George London to form "The Bel-Canto Trio." Louis B. Mayer heard Mario during a performance at the Hollywood Bowl and signed him to make movies six months out of the year, leaving the other six for Mario to pursue live opera and concerts. Mario made several movies starting with That Midnight Kiss in 1949, with Kathryn Grayson. Shortly, thereafter, Mario made his New Orleans Opera debut as Pinkerton in "Madam Butterfly". Mario died in Italy in 1959, at the young age of 38.

Ms. Smith will be featured in several solo selections which she has performed to high acclaim across North America and Europe.

Come join us for what is surely to be an exciting evening of music!
Check out a video clip of Sam Vitale singing a number from "Phantom of the Opera":

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVrcslZW_1Q
For more information on Sam Vitale visit:

http://www.SicilianTenors.com