J'Nae Fincannon, Miss Hollywood 1997, recently returned from JAPAN where she performed her music and did promotional work for Japanese radio, TV and publications. Her time in Japan included photo shoots and interviews for various magazines, filming for various TV shows, obtaining placement for licensed original songs, radio shows featuring personal interviews and her music, performing almost nightly and pre-production work for her new album. Already receiving radio airplay, J'Nae met with radio personalities and promoted her music. She worked with amazing musicians and shared her music with Japanese audiences on a nightly basis. Now back in the United States, J'Nae is in pre-production work for her new CD of all original music. For more on J'Nae's music and her performance schedule, visit her websites at http://jnaemusic.com/ or http://www.myspace.com/jnaemusic

From the online Opera News September 2009.

IN REVIEW
SAN FRANCISCO — Porgy and Bess, San Francisco Opera, 6/9/09

Throughout its history, Porgy and Bess has never gained the unqualified acceptance it deserves from opera-lovers, some of whom may still harbor reservations about this Broadway-born work's place in the opera-house repertoire. Yet the June 9 opening night of San Francisco Opera's production, introducing two youthful proponents of the opera's title roles, left little doubt as to the merits of George Gershwin's 1935 masterpiece.

This Porgy, the company's first since 1995, was a revival of Francesca Zambello's production, originally created for Washington National Opera, which emphasizes both the rapturous beauties and the unsettling verismo power of the work. The director employed judicious cuts, reducing the nearly four-hour score to a spellbinding one-intermission, running time of three hours, five minutes, and bringing the first half to a boldly theatrical conclusion with Crown's abduction of Bess on Kittiwah Island. The success of Zambello's staging lies in the way it integrates the big showcase numbers — Clara's curtain-raising "Summertime," the spiritual "Leavin' for the Promised Land," the exuberant church-picnic parade and the dark-hued hurricane scene — with the intimate focus of the character-driven moments. The nascent love of the title characters was clearly drawn, with "Bess, You Is My Woman" and "I Loves You, Porgy" acquiring a transcendent nobility; the sense of community, from the gentle bond of Jake and Clara down to the smallest supporting roles, is evident as well. The results in San Francisco were vibrant and cohesive, creating a drama far greater than a mere sequence of memorable musical episodes. Set designer Peter J. Davison rendered Catfish Row in a stacked wall of rust-colored tin shanties; Mark McCullough's glowing lighting and Paul Tazewell's costumes yielded a sublime palette. Choreographer Denni Sayers and fight director Jonathan Rider enhanced the sense of naturalism, embodied by a first-rate cast.

Eric Owens, singing the first Porgy of his career, conferred dignity, pathos and heroic stature on the crippled beggar; the bass-baritone's warm, flexible tone and ample vocal reserves were deployed with impeccable musicianship. Soprano Laquita Mitchell, in her first outing as Bess, dazzled the SFO audience with her purity of tone and vivid theatrical presence. Lester Lynch lent sturdy vocalism and brute swagger to the role of Crown, and Karen Slack's outsized instrument soared in Serena's music. Angel Blue's luminous Clara, Chauncey Packer's agile Sportin' Life, Eric Greene's appealing Jake and Alteouise deVaughn's indelible Maria made essential contributions. Conductor John DeMain — who began championing Gershwin's score in the 1970s at Houston Grand Opera under David Gockley, now general director of SFO — returned to the work with admirable insight, imparting taut musical line and apt sensuality to every scene. Under Ian Robertson, the chorus sang with luster and authority, achieving a performance as potent as the opera itself.

GEORGIA ROWE

A review of the recent production of Porgy and Bess by the San Francisco Opera, featuring Angel Blue, Miss Hollywood 2005 and Miss Southwest California 2006, in the role of Clara.

In addition, she performed this year in Arthur Honegger's King David with the Valdosta Symphony Orchestra in Georgia, in a concert of opera arias with the Korean Symphony Orchestra in Seoul, South Korea and in Scenes from Romeo and Juliette with the Orchestras of Pasadena. She is currently living and working in Spain.

For more on Angel's career, visit her website at http://www.angeljoyblue.com/

Congratulations to Miss California Jackie Geist (Miss Hollywood 2008), a Top 7 Finalist at MISS AMERICA! We're so proud of you!

Congratulations to Nicole Chiu (Miss Southland 2007) and Stephanie Schutt (Miss Southland 2008) on the naming of the Nicole Chiu/Stephanie Schutt Interview Award

2010 Pageant Dates:

November 7 & 8, 2009

Location:

Radission Hotel
at Los Angeles Airport
6225 W. Century Blvd.
Los Angeles 90045

The U.S. Schweitzer Fellows Program provide community service fellowships for graduate students in health-related professional fields who are dedicated to addressing unmet health needs in their local areas.

The mission of The Albert Schweitzer Fellowship is to reduce disparities in health and healthcare by developing "leaders in service" - individuals who are dedicated and skilled in helping underserved communities, and whose example influences and inspires others.

Not so coincidentally, this was Amy's platform as a pageant contestant. Way to go, Amy!