Jerome Hines was an absolute inspiration to me... I felt very fortunate to be

chosen as one of the fellows in the original Opera Music Theater Institute

program, which he founded. We were paid a monthly salary and had to work

9 to 5, Monday through Friday, as well as Saturdays at the Actor's Studio. Jerry

provided us with the best of the best to work with as we studied vocal pedagogy,

language, stage craft and anything else he felt would prepare us for our careers.

Some of the friends I made there remain dear close friends to this day. The faculty

were Jerry, his wife Lucia Evangelista, Franco Corelli, Dody Protero, Franco Corsaro,

William Vendice and Henry Lewis, among others. It was a great experience and I

wish there were more opportunities like this for young singers today. I was also

given a great opportunity to sing Obadiah to Jerry's Elijah... When he stood up to

sing "Lord, God of Abraham", it was as if God himself was singing!!!