World-class tenor Clifton Forbis will return to Belmont University to accept the inaugural Encore Award on March 31 at 7:30 p.m. in Massey Concert Hall. “Clifton is a natural choice for the first presentation of this award,” said Dr. Jeffery Kirk, associate dean for performance studies. The award has been created to honor a School of Music alumnus for achievement in the field of classical music. “With performances with opera houses and symphonies around the world, Clifton is one of Belmont’s most distinguished classical alumni,” said Kirk. “He is a great example of what we hope all of our alumni achieve both personally and professionally.”
In addition to receiving the award, Forbis will present a recital program of arts songs and arias and a master class with four Belmont students. The event is free and open to the public.
A 1985 graduate of Belmont and native Nashvillian, Forbis has performed demanding tenor repertoire around the world including the title roles in Samson et Dalila, Otello and Tristan und Isolde. He is a leading artist with the Metropolitan Opera, Opéra National de Paris, Canadian Opera Company and Teatro all Scala. The School of Music plans to present the Encore Award annually to an alumnus in the field of classical music.
