SAVANNAH VOICE FESTIVAL’S FIFTH SEASONTO CONCLUDE WITH LAUGHTER AND LOVELY MUSIC

SAVANNAH, GA – August 14, 2017 – Does opera ever end with a laugh? It does withThe Savannah VOICE Festival as it comes to a comedic end with the Festival Finale: Funny@Five, a lively show named for this year’s overall theme. The finale will be held at 5 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 26 at First Presbyterian Church, 520 Washington Ave., in downtown Savannah.

The finale will focus on the comedic aspects of opera, musical theatre and song as the 2017 Festival comes to a close with a finale of beautiful voices, a few laughs and glorious music.

After three weeks of astounding performances and educational events, the Festival will say goodbye with a special dinner on Skidaway Island. The 2018 operas will be announced as guests enjoy great food, music and company. This special night will mark the end of the fifth anniversary season. Tickets to this event cost $125 per person with dinner and wine included. A cash bar will be available. The Festival Gala Dinner will be held at 6:30 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 27 at the Plantation Club at The Landings, 1 Cottonwood Lane and reservations must be confirmed by the 23rd ofAugust.

The Savannah VOICE Festival, now in its fifth year, has created a sought-after festival that is a unique destination for music lovers both locally and globally, thus artistically and economically serving the Savannah community and the performing arts at large. The nonprofit arts organization brings classical vocal excellence to the Savannah area through a three-week celebration of concerts, events, and educational presentations during the month of August as well as throughout the year.

Opera legend and Artistic Director Sherrill Milnes and Executive Director Maria Zouves founded the Festival as part of the Milnes VOICE Programs, and they continue to work together to serve the community by providing the highest level of education and quality performances by talented artists for all to enjoy.

“The past three weeks have been an amazing combination of music, talent, laughter and tireless support from everyone involved in making this Festival such a wonderful celebration of opera and the cultural arts,” Zouves said. “Our fifth anniversary season may be ending, but we are happy to say it won't be long before we return in November for world premiere of Michael Ching’s new, exciting opera, "Anna Hunter"!”

For more information about the Savannah VOICE Festival or to purchase tickets to the Funny@Five Finale or the Festival Gala Dinner, please visit

- ENDS -

Editor’s Notes

Savannah VOICE Festivalis a 501(c) 3 tax exempt nonprofit arts organization in the state of Georgia. The Festival brings classical vocal excellence to the Savannah area through a two-week celebration of concerts, events and educational presentations during the month of August and throughout the year. Focusing on arts awareness and audience development in the performing arts, it offersmusic from opera, musical theatre and popular song. Donations are tax-deductible.

VOICExperience Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose mission is to pass on the traditions of great singing and develop new audiences for opera. Under the umbrella of The Sherrill Milnes VOICE Programs, VOICExperience continues its dedication to the quality, integrity and perpetuation of the vocal arts through life-changing intensives, performances, and community-enriching outreach events in New York, Georgia (with its sister organization, the Savannah VOICE Festival), Florida and Illinois. For more information, please visit

The Savannah VOICE Festival is supported in part by the Georgia Council for the Arts through the appropriations from the Georgia General Assembly. GCA is a Partner Agency of the National Endowment for the Arts.

For media inquiries, please call Hollie Barnidge at 912-272-8651 or emailor Lesley Francis at 912-429-3950 or emailor the team at 912-417-LFPR (5377).