BERNADETTE LA PAGLIA

Following her performance as guest soloist at the Naples Opera Society's annual benefit concert held at the Norris Center, soprano Constance Fee shares a light moment with dear friends, the Rev. Bruce Fiol of Marco Presbyterian Church and wife Judy. The proceeds of the benefit will go toward the NOS Student Scholarship Fund.

BERNADETTE LA PAGLIA

Acclaimed soprano Constance Fee, second from left, is flanked by her parents, Islanders Dr. Neal and Marion Fee, and brother, John (far right) of Naples. Fee was in town to perform a benefit concert for the Naples Opera Society's Student Scholarship Fund.

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It happens only once a year that the Naples Opera Society (NOS) charges admission for their monthly concerts at the Norris Center. And when they do, it’s well worth the price!

“We believe in making our concerts open and accessible to everyone,” said Dr. Ron Bowman, NOS president. “Our mission is to cultivate a love of music and to encourage this love in our youth especially. This is the real reason why we’ve started to produce an annual benefit concert — in support of their academic aspirations through the scholarship fund. Of course it is our constant hope that our guests will be inspired to give donations throughout the year — and to become members.”

When the Rev. Bruce Fiol and his wife Judy attended the NOS benefit last Tuesday evening it was with great expectation.

“We’ve known Connie Fee for years. This was a very special event. Connie was terrific,” Rev. Fiol said. “It was a blend of a staid repertoire — the Schumann and Massenet — and then the selections from Bizet’s Carmen. We were also taken by the tenor (Steven Tompkins, Fee’s graduate student at Roberts Wesleyan College where she is a professor), the baritone (Dr. Ron Bowman) and the pianist (Dr. Michael Landrum).”

Turns out Fee has sung for countless Christmas Eve services at Marco Presbyterian Church where Rev. Fiol is pastor.

“It’s probably been a tradition for the last 12 to 15 years,” Rev. Fiol estimated. “Whenever she’s in town visiting her family, it’s a joy to have her as a guest soloist. She’s always so gracious in making herself available.”

Judy Fiol recalled a time about eight years ago when she and her husband were visiting their daughter in Pennsylvania and learned that Fee was starring in Puccini’s Tosca at Messiah College outside of Harrisburg.

“It was so exciting to hear her,” she said. “It still is.”