December 13, 2018
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Pittsburgh Opera announces three new Board members: Celia Soehner, Esquire and Dr. William Poller have joined its Board of Directors, while international star mezzo-soprano Marianne Cornetti has joined its Advisory Board.
Celia Soehner, Esquire is an attorney with Morgan Lewis.
Ms. Soehner focuses her practice on advising public companies with respect to corporate governance, federal securities laws, stock exchange and executive compensation matters. She also advises clients in connection with mergers and acquisitions and capital market transactions.
Previously, Celia served for more than five years as an attorney-advisor with the US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) in the Division of Corporation Finance, where she received the 2011 Chairman’s Award for Excellence.
Celia co-chaired Pittsburgh Opera’s Diamond Heist, the 64th annual Diamond Horseshoe Ball, in September. The event was Pittsburgh Opera’s most successful Ball in recent memory.
Dr. William Poller is a Diagnostic Radiology Specialist and former Director of Breast Imaging at Allegheny Health Network.
He graduated with honors from the University Of Pittsburgh School Of Medicine, and has been practicing in Pittsburgh since 1975.
Passionate opera fans, Dr. Poller and his wife Lydi have been strong Pittsburgh Opera supporters for years.
Marianne Cornetti is internationally-recognized as one of the leading Verdi mezzo-sopranos of her generation. A former Pittsburgh Opera Resident Artist, she returned to the Benedum Center stage most recently in November as the Witch in Pittsburgh Opera’s critically-acclaimed Hansel & Gretel.
Cornetti has sung iconic roles in virtually major city in the world, including Rome, Vienna, Tokyo, Beijing, Sao Paulo, and London. She appears frequently in concerts and masterclasses. In 2017 Ms. Cornetti was featured on a Teatro Regio di Parma recording of Verdi’s Don Carlo, as well as a newly-released recording of Le Prophète with OES records recorded at the AALTO-THEATRE in Essen, Germany.
With renowned performances at prestigious opera houses across the world, Cornetti continues to garner rave reviews and win the hearts of audiences globally.
“We are beyond happy to welcome Bill, Celia and Marianne,” says Pittsburgh Opera Board Chair Michele Fabrizi. “Their commitment reflects their belief in Pittsburgh Opera’s mission to enrich the region through beautiful live performances and impactful education programs. We are thrilled they are joining us.”
Photos from David Bachman Photography (Dr. William Poller and his wife Lydi at Pittsburgh Opera’s Diamond Heist), Morgan Lewis (Celia Soehner), and Marianne Cornetti’s website.
