Cristina Fontanelli Named Most Notable Alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts

March 15, 2011 - PRLog -- FORBES magazine sums up Ms. Fontanelli’s artistry as: “She has no equal.”

To view a brief video clip of CRISTINA FONTANELLI performing “Vissi d'Arte,” a well-known Aria from the opera, "Tosca," from her appearance at Feinsteins, refer to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=beRVBAyNiUQ


NEW YORK, NY - Award-winning international singing sensation CRISTINA FONTANELLI has been listed as one of the most notable alumni of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts (A.A.D.A) on Wikipedia along with a link to The Union City Reporter’s coverage of her 7th Annual “Christmas In Italy” Program concert at Lincoln Center in November 2010. . This honorable mention was also recently included in a featured article published on the website, Answers.com, in their American Theater Guide section.

The oldest acting school in the English speaking world, the Academy in New York was founded in 1884 to train actors for the stage. Numerous students of the Academy have gone on to distinguished careers throughout the entertainment industry. The Academy’s alumni have been nominated for 95 Oscars®, 236 Emmys® and 83 Tonys®.

Notable alumni along with Cristina Fontanelli include Armand Assante, Anne Bancroft, Eileen Brennan, Cecil B. DeMille, Danny DeVito, Kirk Douglas, James Farentino, Anne Hathaway, Agnes Moorehead, Robert Redford, Don Rickles, Rosalind Russell, Spencer Tracy and many more.

“I’m so grateful for the training I received at the Academy and I’m humbled to be listed alongside these ‘icons’ of the acting world,” says Ms. Fontanelli. “The Academy challenged me and prepared me for an industry that continues to afford me many opportunities to use my acting, singing and creative talents to entertain and touch the lives of so many in my audiences.”

Cristina Fontanelli has become a well-known personality through her recordings, her appearances on radio, in concert, nightclubs, opera, and her acting debut on network television. She is the “voice of Domino’s Pizza” on their current national radio commercial. A listing of the popular “giants” she has appeared with include Tony Bennett and Joel Grey. Ms. Fontanelli is the voice of “Nonna” on the beloved TV Chef Lidia Bastianich’s 2010 PBS Christmas special (featured in over 300 PBS outlets across the U.S.) and she appeared in an interview/performance/co-hosting on CBS Weekend New York with 15,000,000 viewers at the end of 2010. Her beautiful soprano voice has taken her to the White House as part of President Clinton’s holiday celebration and on January 20, 2005 Cristina Fontanelli was invited to open the ceremonies at the Stars and Stripes Inaugural Ball for President George W. Bush – this following her “Lifetime Achievement Award in the Arts” from the Order Sons of Italy in America (previous honoree Luciano Pavarotti).

Cristina is a proud member of the three top performing unions – SAG/AFTRA/EQUITY and has been named one of the American Academy of Dramatic Arts most notable alumni (along with Robert Redford, Danny DeVito, Edward G. Robinson, etc.). 2010 appearances included the opening ceremonies of the prestigious Hamptons Classic Horseshow, singing the National Anthem on Capital Hill in Washington D.C. for the testimony by fashion-icon Giorgio Gucci, her 3rd-annual appearance for TV Host Jimmy Kimmel in Hollywood CA, her 4th-annual appearance at Feinsteins at the Regency Hotel, singing Happy Birthday to Mickey Rooney for his 90th birthday celebration at Feinsteins (Donald Trump, Regis Philbin, Tony Bennett, et al in attendance) and a gala at the Pierre Hotel in NY City for Gucci.

Ms. Fontanelli is a guest artist with many prestigious orchestras including the Boston Pops and the St. Louis Symphony performing in major concert halls throughout the U.S. and the world, including the Lincoln and Kennedy Centers and major concert halls throughout Japan, Korea, the Middle East and Canada. She has completed three world-tours with the Mantovani Orchestra, has sung at Gracie Mansion at the invitation of Mayor Rudy Giuliani, Washington, D.C. for the National Italian American Foundation (NIAF) and the Italian Embassy, Lincoln Center with stars from the Metropolitan Opera, the Waldorf-Astoria for the Columbus Citizens Foundation honoring Franco Zeffirelli and Maestro Riccardo Muti and the prestigious National Arts Club in NYC. She appears annually at the world-famous, Feinstein’s at the Regency Hotel, in NYC, and has received rave reviews for her nightclub entertainment abilities, in addition to her classical concert and operatic appearances.

Recent appearances include the Hilton in Atlantic City, St. Patrick’s Cathedral NYC, a 9/11 memorial concert at Rockefeller Center with the NYPD Concert Band (televised on CNN, Fox National and NY Channels 5, 7 and 9) and the Columbus Day Parade on 5th Avenue NYC. She was signed by platinum-record winning producer to record “Cristina Fontanelli Sings Great Italian Favorites”. Her numerous awards include the American Opera Auditions and awards from the Puccini and Koussevitsky Foundations. She has received “Woman of the Year” awards from the NYC Transit Authority, the NJ Federation of Italian and Italian-American Societies, Ethnic Press Council of Toronto and the Salerno Club of the State of NY. Ms. Fontanelli sings and entertains in 8 languages.

Ms. Fontanelli’s “Christmas In Italy” Program is in its eighth year in 2011 and is a vocal journey through Italy’s best loved songs and arias as well as Neopolitan and Christmas classics. Her repertoire includes songs and arias by Donizetti, Tosti and Puccini along with such classics as “Torna A Surriento,” “Chisto Paese d’o Sole” and the Italian Christmas classic “Tu Scendi dalle Stelle” (You Came Down From The Stars.”).

“I started the ‘Christmas In Italy’ Program in an effort to preserve the great songs of my heritage which are being lost and to teach them to younger generations,” says Ms. Fontanelli.

Born in Brooklyn, she also attended The Juilliard School in addition to being a distinguished graduate of The American Academy of Dramatic Arts. Fontanelli’s CD "Great Italian Favorites" is currently available.

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For more information, refer to http://www.cristinafontanelli.com.


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