Each year, the St. Petersburg Opera Guild, in conjunction with St. Petersburg Opera, holds a high school competition with financial scholarships awarded to the talented winners. AHN’s own Isabella R. A’21 won the 2021 SPOC High School Vocal Competition! This is the 50th anniversary of the SPOC supporting young artists through annual vocal competitions.

Isabella submitted three videos for the competition: one aria from an opera or operetta or a selection from classical-style Broadway theatre repertoire and two art songs, one in Italian. She selected "Tonight" from Leonard Bernstein's “West Side Story,” "Danza, Danza Fanciulla Gentile" by Francesco Durante, and "Weep You No More" by Roger Quilter. As the winner, Isabella won $750 with the possibility of singing at one of the outdoor Opera Guild community events. Congratulations!