This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority

Performance has always been a part of Maria Zouves from "playing office" as a child to singing in the back of the car and eventually to the stage alongside her husband, Sherrill Milnes — a legend of the art. But taking to the stage as the main act was not always Zouves' passion, and she translated her business-savvy intelligence to bringing more minds to the opera world, specifically in the Savannah area through the Savannah VOICE Festival. Now in its seventh season, the festival gets ready to kick off its most unique and diverse line-up yet and it is a testament to its two founders in Zouves and Milnes. In this episode of Difference Makers, Zouves sits down with Adam to speak about her early career in music, meeting Sherrill and working out of his shadow and what brought her to Savannah to create the festival that has become a staple in the city.

Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by clicking here for a special offer

(8:53): Early music career and aspirations

(14:43): Challenges weening off music career and taking a next step
VIDEO: Sherrill Milnes and Luciano Pavarotti sing La Giocanda
VIDEO: Maria Zouves and Sherrill Milnes sing "You'll Always Be My Baby"

(18:16): Voice Experience Program

(26:08): Her learning experiences from the first couple VOICE Festivals

(30:55): 2019 edition of the Savannah VOICE Festival
Savannah VOICE Festival opens seventh and largest season (Do Savannah, July 31, 2019)
Savannah VOICE Festival: Death By Aria returns with the high notes (Do Savannah, July 31, 2019)
VIDEO: Savannah VOICE Festival previews "Forever Plaid"

(33:54): VOICE Festival's education and outreach programs
Built to educate and entertain, Savannah VOICE Fest is dedicated to students, community (Do Savannah, Aug. 14, 2018)
Edu-tainment: 'Hansel and Gretel' continues Savannah VOICE Fest's core mission (Do Savannah, Aug. 14, 2018)

(38:09): How do you approach opera in the modern age?

(44:24): What do you do to bridge the generational attitudes towards performance and art with the VOICE Festival?

Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam.

<a href="http://seda.org/home">This episode is brought to you by the Savannah Economic Development Authority</a>
Performance has always been a part of Maria Zouves from "playing office" as a child to singing in the back of the car and eventually to the stage alongside her husband, Sherrill Milnes &mdash; a legend of the art. But taking to the stage as the main act was not always Zouves' passion, and she translated her business-savvy intelligence to bringing more minds to the opera world, specifically in the Savannah area through the Savannah VOICE Festival. Now in its seventh season, the festival gets ready to kick off its most unique and diverse line-up yet and it is a testament to its two founders in Zouves and Milnes. In this episode of Difference Makers, Zouves sits down with Adam to speak about her early career in music, meeting Sherrill and working out of his shadow and what brought her to Savannah to create the festival that has become a staple in the city.
Podcast listeners: Get digital SMN subscription by <a href="http://www.savannahnow.com/digitalonlyoffer">clicking here</a> for a special offer
<hr>
(8:53): Early music career and aspirations
(14:43): Challenges weening off music career and taking a next step
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ufNSPReoZO0">VIDEO: Sherrill Milnes and Luciano Pavarotti sing La Giocanda</a></li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2pUgVoF2CZY">VIDEO: Maria Zouves and Sherrill Milnes sing "You'll Always Be My Baby"</a></li>
</ul>
(18:16): <a href="http://voicexperiencefoundation.org/">Voice Experience Program</a>
(26:08): Her learning experiences from the first couple VOICE Festivals
(30:55): 2019 edition of the Savannah VOICE Festival
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dosavannah.com/entertainmentlife/20190728/savannah-voice-festival-opens-seventh-and-largest-season/1">Savannah VOICE Festival opens seventh and largest season</a> (Do Savannah, July 31, 2019)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.dosavannah.com/entertainmentlife/20190731/savannah-voice-festival-death-by-aria-returns-with-high-notes">Savannah VOICE Festival: Death By Aria returns with the high notes</a> (Do Savannah, July 31, 2019)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMHHVSg2bBI">VIDEO: Savannah VOICE Festival previews "Forever Plaid"</a></li>
</ul>
(33:54): VOICE Festival's education and outreach programs
<ul>
<li><a href="https://www.dosavannah.com/entertainmentlife/20180814/built-to-educate-and-entertain-savannah-voice-fest-is-dedicated-to-students-community">Built to educate and entertain, Savannah VOICE Fest is dedicated to students, community</a> (Do Savannah, Aug. 14, 2018)</li>
<li><a href="https://www.dosavannah.com/entertainmentlife/20180813/edu-tainment-hansel-and-gretel-continues-savannah-voice-fests-core-mission">Edu-tainment: 'Hansel and Gretel' continues Savannah VOICE Fest's core mission</a> (Do Savannah, Aug. 14, 2018)</li>
</ul>
(38:09): How do you approach opera in the modern age?
(44:24): What do you do to bridge the generational attitudes towards performance and art with the VOICE Festival?
<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/the-commute-with-adam-van-brimmer/id1389307354?mt=2">Make sure to follow The Commute podcast for daily news briefs from Adam</a>.

News and Interviews from the Savannah Morning News, Savannah GA

From the Newsroom: Savannah Now

Performance has always been a part of Maria Zouves from "playing office" as a child to singing in the back of the car and eventually to the stage alongside her husband, Sherrill Milnes — a legend of the art. But taking to the stage as the main act was not always Zouves' passion, and she translated her business-savvy intelligence to bringing more minds to the opera world, specifically in the Savannah area through the Savannah VOICE Festival. Now in its seventh season, the festival gets ready to kick off its most unique and diverse line-up yet and it is a testament to its two founders in Zouves and Milnes. In this episode of Difference Makers, Zouves sits down with Adam to speak about her early career in music, meeting Sherrill and working out of his shadow and what brought her to Savannah to create the festival that has become a staple in the city.

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