Alumni Foundation, Rotary raise money for budding opera singer
Steven Olick will spend a month studying in Italy
Photos by Tom Rivers – Steven Olick sings “Lilacs” by Rachmaninoff during the Albion Rotary Club’s meeting Thursday at The Village Inn. Olick, a 2010 Albion graduate, is training to become an opera singer.
ALBION – An Albion graduate who is working to become an opera singer has strong support from his hometown in pursuing that goal.
Steven Olick IV performed a concert Sunday at the First Presbyterian Church, an event organized by the Albion Alumni Foundation. The concert was a fund-raiser so Olick could spend a month this summer studying opera in Vado, Italy.
Last night Olick was presented with a check for $3,300 to help pay for the study abroad. The funding comes from the concert, the Alumni Foundation and the Albion Rotary Club.
Charlie Nesbitt, a Foundation board member and Rotarian, pushed to raise the money for Olick, calling the experience for the student a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
During the intensive month-long program, Olick will receive 45 hours of language training by teachers from the Italian Scuola, two voice lessons a week, two private coaching sessions, two acting lessons a week and two master classes. The program will culminate with Olick performing four concerts. He will study with college professors from around the U.S. as well as baritone from the Met, David Malis.
Charlie Nesbitt, left, stands next to Steven Olick IV with Albion Alumni Foundation members Gary Simboli and Ed Fancher, right. They presented Olick with a check for $3,300 to study opera in Italy. Olick is going into his senior year at Fredonia State College.
