Chi Siamo | Who We Are
Chi Siamo | Who We Are
Scholarships & Grants
Scholarships & Grants
Promoting knowledge and appreciation of Italian culture in our community
is at the heart of the Vermont Italian Cultural Association's mission.
VICA awards grants and scholarships to support projects and endeavors consistent with our mission.
Individuals who are seeking to broaden their knowledge of Italy, including the Italian-American experience, the Italian experience, Italian language, arts, music, history, and culture are encouraged to apply.
2024 Grant Recipients
Big Ensemble of "Tutto nel Mondo è burla" from Falstaff at Talamello, Italy.
Cristina Escobedo
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Being a recipient of the VICA's grant opened a great opportunity for my personal growth and an amazing experience for my career as an Opera Singer. With the generous help of the association I was able to attend the summer program "Classic Lyric Arts of 2024" (CLA) in Novafeltria, Italy and spent one month, immersed in the beautiful Italian culture, learning its language and its traditions. There, I received high-level music training on the bel-canto repertoire and presented five concerts through the region of Rimmini as part of the Festival "Voci nel Montefeltro" I performed on ensembles and solo pieces from artist such as Verdi, Mascagni, Puccini, Donizetti, and others. This experience has allowed me to discover many aspects of the Opera World and about my own voice. At the same time, it reinforced my actoral skills. I am more than grateful to the Vermont Itlaian Cultural Association for making this possible and supporting my learning process of being a good artist.
From Left to Right: Glenn Morton (Artistic Director of CLA), Cristina Escobedo, John Viscardi (Executive Director of CLA).
Jack Dodd
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Puccini: An Immersive Experience. The grant from the Vermont Italian Cultural Association allowed me to realize my dreams.
This opportunity helped me to continue growing my passion in life: Classical singing. I was invited to attend the Giacomo Puccini Conservatory in Milan, and Arrigo Boito Conservatory in Parma where I studied and attended classes as a student of music education. The experience centered around composer Giacomo Puccini; learning about his life, the stories he told through his operas, and the nuances of singing Italian classical music. I prepared four Puccini art songs and was able to attend a conference at the Conservatorio di Musica Arrigo Boito in Parma. The conference focused on the exoticism in Puccini's musical writings, delving into the history and inspiration of his operas, as well as masterclasses where I was able to work on a piece with the Italian professors. I documented my experiences through pictures and videos and presented about my experience at my former elementary school in Barre, Vermont. It was a full circle moment for me as it was in elementary school that I knew I wanted to be a singer.
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I always wanted to travel and explore my cultural roots. No one in my family has traveled to Italy since my Great Grandmother immigrated to the US in the early 1900's. Visiting Italy was such a surreal experience, and I was fortunate to combine it with my passion for classical singing.
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I am so honored to have been selected as a 2024 grant recipient and am forever grateful for the wonderful organization that is the Vermont Italian Cultural Association.
Past Grant Recipients
Samantha Aikman
The grant from the Vermont Italian Cultural Association allowed me to experience Italy in a new exploratory and independent way, while also working on my writing. The summer after I graduated high school in 2022, I spent two weeks traveling alone, spending a few days in each of four Italian cities. During my travels I recorded videos and collected ideas and notes, so when I returned home, I could compile a final spoken-word poetry video about my experience. This trip enabled me to discover Italian culture, gain confidence in my ability to navigate the world, and create a final piece that commemorated my journey.