upcoming events

Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana
A Co-Production with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

Co-Production with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra
Sunday, March 2 | 4:00 PM & Monday, March 3 | 7:30 PM
First Presbyterian Church
540 William Hilton Parkway
Hilton Head Island SC

One of the most popular works in any genre over the last century, Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana is a musical feast for the senses. Set for double chorus, children’s chorus, three vocal soloists and full orchestra, Carmina is an adaptation of 24 poems from a Medieval manuscript discovered in the early 19^th century and set to music by Carl Orff in the 1930s. The secular text is a paean to the fleeting nature of life, the fickleness of fate, and the pleasures and perils of drink, gluttony, and lust. Orff’s score is at once powerful, mysterious, hypnotic, and exotic; especially the opening and closing chorus “O Fortuna”, which has been used in hundreds of films and television soundtracks. The HHSO Chorus is joined by The Claflin University Concert Choir, and the Statesboro Youth Choir.

John Morris Russell, Conductor
Javier Arrey, Baritone
Ashley Nuñez, Soprano
Stephen Steffens, Tenor

Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra Chorus
Claflin University Concert Choir, Dr. Charie Toomer, Jr., Director
Statesboro Youth Chorale, Michael Roemer, Director

Master Class With Maestro Sherrill Milnes
Co-Production with the Hilton Head Symphony Orchestra

Monday, March 3 | 1:00 PM
SoundWaves,
7 Lagoon Road
Hilton Head Island SC

Rigoletto: Legendary Performances of Sherrill Milnes

Sherrill Milnes and Maria Zouves
A Presentation of the Savannah VOICE Festival
The Learning Center
11:00 am – 12:00 pm | Tuesday, March 4

Now in his ninetieth year, baritone legend Sherrill Milnes recalls his six decades on the American Stage. In this exclusive Learning Center presentation, Milnes highlights his performances in the role of Verdi’s Rigoletto. In the company of his wife, soprano Maria Zouves, he shares memories—and video footage—of some memorable performances. 

Sherrill Milnes is an American baritone most known for his roles in the operas of Verdi.  He enjoyed a career with the Metropolitan Opera and all the major operatic houses of the world. 

Maria Zouves founded VOICExperience and the Savannah VOICE Festival with her husband Sherrill Milnes in 2001.  An accomplished soprano in her own right, Zouves works with Milnes and the nonprofit programs to identify and foster young talent in the Savannah community as other major cities of the world.

Songs and Stories in the Squares

Wednesday, March 12 at 4:00 p.m.

Join us and our partners at the Historic Savannah Foundation for an afternoon stroll filled with history and music in the spring installment of this free event.
This event begins Troupe Square.

VOICE Salon Series

Thursday, March 13 – Mediterranean Voyages

The Savannah VOICE Festival partners with the Green-Meldrim House for fantastic journeys. Join us for this special parlor event with great music, food and wine in this historic house. Tickets start at $95/person.

A Tribute to Maria Callas

March 15, 2025 – 7:00 p.m.
St. Nicholas Community Center
Tarpon Springs, FL 

Enjoy an evening of music with artists of the Savannah VOICE Festival including Minghao Liu, Congcong Wang, Chad Sonka, and Maria Zouves. This event includes a presentation and book signing by Nicholas Gage, champagne and hors d’oeuvre. Donation of $125/per person.

ALMO & Júlio Resende: Portuguese Music Reimagined

March 23, 2025 – 2:00 p.m.

ALMO & Júlio Resende present a unique and innovative concert, where the excellence of the creative and improvising ability of the pianist and composer Júlio Resende joins the interpretive talent of the singers Paulo Lapa (tenor) and Tiago Matos (baritone). In a perfect symbiosis between jazz, improvisation and singing, they seek a differentiating sound that lives up to the essence of Fado and Portuguese Traditional Music without being exclusively and intrinsically linked to jazz and lyrical aesthetics. ALMO, which derives from the Latin “almus” (an adjective that poetically qualifies the one who cares; the one who creates; creator), names the “journey” that the two singers decided to take on a path of freedom in search of space to rediscover the soul of Fado and the Portuguese Songbook.
Early in their musical journeys, Paulo Lapa & Tiago Matos were Festival Artists at the Savannah VOICE Festival, attending the Milnes VOICE Studio on full scholarship, thanks to the support of SVF donors. Consider purchasing a scholarship ticket today to support the studies of more young musicians like Paulo and Tiago.

Sponsored in part by Kathy and Les Anderson

American Opera Icon

Savannah Music Festival
District Live at Plant Riverside District
6:00 pm | Thursday, April 3

Join American baritone Sherrill Milnes, who shares stories about the debut that launched him into international stardom and his life as the most recorded American opera singer of his time. Through exciting live performances from Milnes’ colleagues and mentees, along with special video presentations, see a storied opera career through the eyes of a living legend.

2025 Sherrill Milnes VOICE Gala Week

Tuesday, May 6
A Conversation with Sherrill Milnes Hosted by Dr. Garry Spector 
A heart-to-heart with Sherrill Milnes about his illustrious career with an audience of aspiring singers. 
Live Streamed for Gala Patrons | Private Link to Be Emailed

Wednesday, May 7
2025 VOICE Gala
The Harmonie Club, New York City

Thursday, May 8
Milnes VOICE Scholarship Competition
A Master Class with Sherrill Milnes (formerly Opera Idol)
Sponsored in part by The Tom Lysaught Scholarship Fund
Singers will work with Milnes in front of a live audience to win a full scholarship to attend the 2025 Milnes VOICE Studio as part of the Savannah VOICE Festival in August.
National Opera Center | 330 7th Avenue, 7th Floor, New York, NY

Friday, May  9
Everything with Maria Zouves
Don’t Tell Mama

Join us for a spectacular night of music and friendship as we celebrate the 90^th birthday of opera legend and Co-Founder of the Milnes VOICE Programs, Sherrill Milnes, as well as the 60^th anniversary of his Metropolitan Opera debut and the 25^th anniversary of the Milnes VOICE Programs. The annual VOICE Gala takes place at the Harmonie Club in New York City and raises funds to provide scholarships to singers who wish to train with the Milnes VOICE Programs through our intensives and events in Florida, Georgia and New York.

2025 Savannah VOICE Festival

August 7-17, 2025 
Savannah, GA

Featuring performances of Verdi’s Rigoletto, Michael Ching’s A Royal Feast, parlor concerts, cabarets, and more! Further details and tickets will be available in May.