If you find your singing range to be exceptional in the shower or in the car and aren’t sure what to do with your gifts, Franco Borda may have just the place for you.
Borda, who has spent the last 17 years owning and operating Franco and Luigi’s Pizzeria, is set to open a school in November that will focus on assisting aspiring opera singers of all ages as they try to develop their talents and go on auditions.
Located on the 1900 block of East Passyunk Avenue, the Philadelphia Vocal Arts Academy will run on an alternating and ever-evolving schedule as teachers are added to its staff of music industry professionals.
"We’re targeting all of the closet singers in South Philly — the doctors, lawyers and working people who don’t have the time or money to go to the reputable vocal schools that are down here," said Borda, a former resident of 10th and Tasker streets.
A self-described "maturing tenor," the 42-year-old Borda developed the idea for the school more than a year ago with some of his singer friends and eventually attracted the interest of former Metropolitan Opera star Enrico DiGiuseppe, who will serve as the centerpiece of the teaching staff.
Students will have to pay small evaluation fees before they can begin taking three- to four-month classes at PVAA, where they will be able to learn everything from how to sing in French or Italian to understanding the concepts behind music theory.
Opening his own music academy is just the latest step Borda has taken in making singing a part of his everyday life. Weekly open-mic nights have changed the face of the Franco and Luigi’s on 10th and Ritner and made it a place some lively entertainment.
"[Life] is all about food and music," Borda said with a laugh.
Food and music will be the focus this Sunday at PVAA’s first event, an outdoor wine festival in Richboro that will raise money to benefit local rising opera singer Dia DiCristino, who has been beset by health and financial problems for the past year.
"I’ve made hundreds of copies of the Review article on Dia [‘High notes, low notes,’ Aug. 28] to be passed out to everyone at the festival," said Borda. "We’ll ask for donations, collect them and then hand it over to her."
Borda is looking forward to bringing the festival to South Philly next year and opening it to the general public. He hopes the highlight of the day will be the featured performances of PVAA’s first students.
"We’re starting off small and occupying just one floor of our building. But who knows? This thing might really wind up taking off."
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To register for classes at PVAA, call 215-389-ARTS.
