Gloria Gari – Chairwoman
Ella and Ferdinand Fishman moved to the U.S. from Budapest in the 1930’s with their two sons. After getting their start in the U.S. they had a daughter that they named Gloria.
Gloria began singing at the age of five. A native New Yorker, she studied voice and piano and developed a lovely soprano operatic voice that was highly regarded by many. In fact, Gloria sang on the radio each week for many years as a child and teen. In one vocal audition in the city, Gloria met a handsome Romanian singer named… Giulio. She was 16 years old: they married three years later.
Giulio and Gloria raised two children, and were very fulfilled living a life of opera and performance for many years. Giulio Gari passed away in April 15, 1994. In 2002 Gloria set up the Giulio Gari Foundation with Licia Albanese and Stephen De Maio. The first competition ran in 2003.
Michele Baldwin – Director of Operations
Multi-disciplined creative; Artist, Actor, Producer, Writer, Director, Entrepreneur, Philanthropist and Humanitarian, Michele strives to inspire others to their excellence by being a fearless beacon of light and positivity. She is a life-learner and an innovative visionary who is very passionate about her work and feels amazingly blessed for all the gifts and talents God has given her.
Learn more about Michele here: Michele Baldwin
Marco Matute – Director of Programming
Born in Tela, Honduras, Marco learned early that life with color and music is more brilliant and certainly more exciting. As a teenager, Marco grew up in choir both in school at in community groups and churches. Choral work allowed for many types of musical experiences like madrigals, Jazz Choir, Spirituals and classical (of all sorts).
Today Marco is a singer, record producer and founder of Yeoryia Studios, a rehearsal space at 72nd Street and Broadway. Marco produces videos for the GGF and is constantly creating new opportunities for the foundation.
Mary Pinto – Accompanist
I have been accompanying for 25 years and have worked as a vocal coach, and instrumental and vocal accompanist. After receiving a Master’s Degree from the University of Illinois where I worked with John Wustman, I went on to work for the Lyric Opera of Chicago’s Ryan Young Artist Program. While in Chicago I accompanied the Met Regional Auditions and played lessons and Masterclasses for Marlena Malas, Edward Zembara, Margaret Harshaw, and Sherrill Milnes. After Chicago, I worked on the musical staff at Dallas Opera and the San Antonio Opera. For the last nine years have been working in New Jersey and the NYC area as an adjunct professor at Montclair State University and William Paterson University preparing recitals, opera workshops and vocal coachings.
Janet Oseroff – Director of Communication
Janet Oseroff has been in the music and entertainment business for fifty-six years working globally in multi-media deals and management of product and talent in music, records, comedy, film, television, radio, digital, live shows, music publishing, books, book publishing – and has been part of trends that became industry standard and culturally mainstream.
She has appeared in three major motion pictures, was the renowned Quotation of the Day in The New York Times, writes and records music, has written two mystery novels, and was involved with the Foundation from its inception.
PJ Ewing – Director of Marketing
PJ Ewing has been an opera fan since his first Madame Butterfly at age 6 at The Metropolitan Opera Tour in Detroit Michigan. This love continued through college where he studied opera at the University of Michigan as part of a Bachelor of Arts degree. Then loving the incredible work of The Chicago Lyric Opera while working at Leo Burnett Advertising. Then PJ continued his love of opera at The Met in NYC while working in advertising, media, marketing, and website development.
Today PJ works on behalf of The GGF to help expand our reach, audience, fans and applicants for the Giulio Gari Vocal Competition.
You can learn about PJ’s digital marketing business here: CMO. You can listen to PJ’s national radio show here: LTNF. You can listen to PJ’s radio station here: WERB.