General Director of
Boston Lyric Opera
awarded Doctor of Arts

Mancini Del Sesto, the General Director of the Boston Lyric Opera since 1992, was honored for her work in the arts community by combining musical training with well-honed organizational management and fundraising talents. Ms. Del Sesto, a graduate of New England Conservatory of Music has been named in Boston Magazine’s annual “People to Watch” as the person “making a difference.” She has been honored by her alma mater with Outstanding Alumna Award for her achievements. Prior to her work at the Boston Lyric Opera, she spent six years as the Director of Development and Communications for the New England Foundation for the Arts. During her tenure, she enhanced the donor base to include corporate and foundation sources in addition to government funding.
Ms. Del Sesto earned her degree in voice and music education, and began a career as a singer appearing in opera, recitals, festivals, and concerts throughout the country. A former member of the NEC faculty, Del Sesto taught voice and theory, and was conductor of the Preparatory Division’s Youth Chorus, which performed and recorded with the Boston Symphony Orchestra and was assistant conductor of the Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus.
She has been a visiting faculty member and lecturer at the New England Conservatory of Music, Radcliffe Seminar Program at Harvard, Northeastern University, Emmanuel College, Boston University, and Rhode Island College. She is a frequent adjudicator of vocal competitions and has chaired and served on various National Endowments for the Arts’ panels. She also performs organizational evaluations of other opera companies for the NEA. Ms. Del Sesto has been featured in articles and symposia on women and management.
She has served as both an Overseer and a Director of the New England Conservatory of Music Boards and is a past president of its alumni association. She is a Vice Chair of the Board of Directors of OPERA America, the national service organization of professional opera companies.

L to R: Adrienne Peterson, Dr. Ron Warners, Stephanie Moskal, Paul Schwab, Jennifer McElhanon, Kevin Tramantozzi, Jason Feldman, Elizabeth Fountain, Allan Hunter

Among the 2003 graduates were these members of the Curry College Honors Program. These students distinguish themselves through academic achievement in an enhanced approach to collegiate study. Recently Curry has opened the Honors Program to first year students. The First Year Honors Program welcomes a select number of new students whose high school Advanced Placement and Honors courses reflect their exceptional academic talent and readiness for the Curry Honors program. The program features students attending three integrated courses as a coherent group each semester, accelerated writing courses, an honors section of a course chosen from the liberal arts curriculum and a First Year Honors Colloquium. This advanced coursework over four years, combined with a variety of cultural and social activities, provides an exceptional environment and opportunities for Curry students.

Jeffery Toobin & Professor John Hill	Diane & Jim Sullivan, Fred O’Neil