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Education is about removing obstructions to light so that the self is enabled to be

Inter-Cities Performing Arts

A New Jersey/New York-based, philanthropic arts company, Inter-Cities Performing Arts, Inc., is committed to creating art for tomorrow through commissioning works by both community and world-renowned artists. These have included a composition for its Carnegie Hall celebration and a sculpture for the Founders Hall at the Metropolitan Opera. A highly respected arts organization, Inter-Cities was chosen to close the 2004 Hudson River Regional Festival. ..read more

The Center For The Arts & Cultures

The center offers the Summer Institute “Encounters with the Masters” program — an immersion in operatic literature, performance, and Italian culture without having to leave the United States. Renowned faculty from such venerable Italian institutions such as La Scala pass on the unwritten traditions of style, nuance and training that are essential for singers who will eventually perform in the country where opera originated. ..read more

” Dear Mrs. Altamura,
I just wanted to express how grateful I am to have participated in your competition this year! It was a lovely experience and I am glad to learn about you and all the wonderful things you and your organization do for us young singers!
We appreciate people like you who believe in Opera and support those who love the art form. I hope I get to sing for you again someday!
Sincerely,
Catherine Swindle”

Catherine Swindle

Dear Carmela,
Just to put it down in writing; the sectional workshops that you did with the Schiller Institute NJ Chorus were extremely helpful. We sent the video to our sister choruses and music directors in Seattle, Boston, Virginia, and San Francisco. Everyone was particularly delighted with the work you did with the sopranos on getting the correct posture, for open and relaxed breathing and support, and the quality of sound that then came out! Two of the other choir directors told me that it was very helpful in their work with some of their singers.

Diane SareManaging Director, Schiller Institute NYC Chorus

“Thank you Carmela, for all the amazing things that you taught me me this week. I feel my voice opening up and becoming bigger and more resonant.”

“Working with Carmela Altamura was an amazing experience. Her approach to singing is so natural, and my voice seemed to respond very quickly. It feels and sounds more opened and the language coaching was an eye-opener.”

“Thank you Carmela, for all the amazing things that you taught me me this week. I feel my voice opening up and becoming bigger and more resonant.”

Jodi KaremMezzo Soprano

“I would like to express you my gratefulness for your exciting service to highest traditions of Italian opera. I have got a priceless experience and developed my professional skills during these four days more than last four years.”

Svetlana BedrinetsSoprano

It was such a pleasure to meet you and serve to your beautiful presentation last Friday.
I want to thank you for the opportunity and I hope to get to see you again in the near future.

Gustavo Ahualli

Thank you for a very tough and inspiring lesson. You are finding potential that I didn’t realize was there, and I am excited about it.

Diane Sare

I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for what was an incredible few weeks of working with you and your associates, culminating in a wonderful evening of glamour and beautiful music. I learned so much in the three weeks we spent rehearsing and preparing for the Lincoln Center event. And while our performance was a fraction of the program, I hope this is just the beginning of many more US/China collaborative projects … I look forward to the next time we meet. You are a true force of nature!

Alicia Cerretani

“Hardly a day goes by that I don’t think of you. Why?
You may remember several years ago I came to your apartment to sing for you, and you turned it into a voice lesson. You told me to open my mouth — wide. Drop your jaw, you said. Loosen up..”

“Earlier this week I sang through Cavaradossi. Again, you should have heard the sound that’s coming out now. My high notes are easier than ever. Oh, and I sang the FAUST aria with the high C. Better than ever..” Read More

Robert P. MitchellPastor

Events & News

Concerts, Competitions, Press Releases and Articles

The Altamura Way Street Naming

“ On behalf of the founders, Leonard and Carmela Altamura and winners of the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition, 2015, you, our magnanimous donors, are deeply thanked from our hearts. You have helped to open many doors for deserving young artists. They will always remember how their art improved social, professional and cultural relations in Poland , especially in Auschwitz where they contributed much to the celebration of the 70th Anniversary of its Liberation.” Because of your generosity and the artists excellence, our Company, Inter-Cities Performing Arts, Inc, has been invited back to accomplish more good works for Hospices, for the Heart to Heart Foundation of Dr. Religa, for the Bytem Opera House and for The Moorish Synagogue where the celebration for the 70th Anniversary of Auschwitz Liberation was held. See the Artists at the Moorish Temple in Krakow

We consider conductor Karel Mark Chichon a noble friend and most talented conductor who gained considerable early experience with our Company .. Karel is presently at the Met conducting Madame Butterfly; This is indeed a feather in our cap for the Company as he got his first opera training with us.

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Who we are and What we do

In 1988, two philanthropists, soprano Carmela Altamura and attorney Leonard Altamura,
founded the Altamura/Caruso International Voice Competition. Created for singers on the
threshold of an international career, the competition functions under the umbrella of its
parent non-profit, Inter-Cities Performing Arts, Inc. The competition immediately
established itself by instituting the then-unheard-of policy of abolishing age requirements.
Aware that existing limits did not allow for the late-maturing, dramatic voice, and by
careful scrutiny of more mature applicants’ achievements, the founders decided to trust
their instincts by opening the door of opportunity to more mature as well as to younger
singers. This policy paid off in unexpected dividends.

Competitions & More

INTERNATIONAL VOICE COMPETITION – 21-23, November 2023August 26, 2023 - 12:00 PM
Music Social at The Altamura CenterOctober 9, 2021 - 11:37 AM
Street Naming Celebration – ALTAMURA WAYJune 12, 2019 - 11:04 AM
50 Years of Service to the ArtsFebruary 24, 2019 - 9:17 PM
Centrum Macierz Polonii – CAŁY KONCERT PRZYJAŹNISeptember 29, 2017 - 12:40 PM
Poland On Its 150 Anniversary Celebrated By AltamuraSeptember 21, 2017 - 12:37 PM
Congratulations On Your PlaySeptember 11, 2017 - 2:05 PM

Weddings & Events

Summer Institute

Competitions

Private Voice Sstudio

Concerts & Events