New York, NY - January 2, 2007 – Robert Mr. Heuer, General Manager and CEO of Florida Grand Opera, announced today that President Jane A. Robinson has been recognized by Opera America’s 2008 National Opera Trustee Recognition Program.  Opera America recently launched the program as part of its commitment to honor opera company trustees for outstanding leadership, support, and audience building efforts on behalf of their opera companies and the communities they serve.

This distinction celebrates Ms. Robinson’s tireless advocacy, exemplary leadership, transparent governance, generosity, and commitment to the local cultural arts community.  Ms. Robinson was selected as the representative for companies with operating budgets over $10 million, categorized as Level 1 companies. A longstanding member of the FGO Board of Directors, Ms. Robinson is currently serving her second term as President, and continues to serve as a member of the company’s Magnum Opus Campaign Committee.  Ms. Robinson also represents FGO on the Board of Directors of the Carnival Center for the Performing Arts Foundation and Opera America.

"I am deeply honored to be recognized by Opera America," said FGO President Jane A. Robinson.  "I have been attending Florida Grand Opera performances for nearly 4 decades and have been a member of the opera family for many, many years.  I feel I am working much harder now than before I retired, but I am committed to doing everything I can to ensure that Florida Grand Opera continues to enrich the lives of future generations, as it has enriched mine."

Over the past four years, Ms. Robinson has devoted her efforts to strengthening the company’s board leadership amidst the challenging competition in Miami’s fast growing cultural climate. Under her direction, the Opera celebrated its 65^th anniversary season, followed by the Triumphal Weekend of events in October, 2006 when it launched its 66^th Season at the new Carnival Center for the Performing Arts – beginning a new performance era for the company in the superb 2,400-seat Sanford and Dolores Ziff Ballet Opera House.  This achievement enables Miami patrons to enjoy opera performances in a first rate venue; an experience Fort Lauderdale patrons have been enjoying at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts for oven ten years.

“Jane is Florida Grand Opera’s most selfless volunteer leader.  She works tirelessly sharing her passion for the art form with new generations, cultivating new and existing donors, and making long-term vital business decisions for the benefit of the company. Heuer added, “There is no doubt that our success as a company is directly linked to Jane’s exceptional leadership.”

“Trust is an essential element in any relationship,” stated Marc A. Scorca, President & CEO of OPERA America. “Board members of opera companies hold the institution in trust for the community and establish credibility for the organization. We are delighted to be joined by U. S. Trust, Bank of America Private Wealth Management in presenting this award to recognize the significant role that board members play in the ongoing success and viability of opera.”

A graduate of Vassar College in theatre and music, Jane is member of the college’s Development Leadership Council.  Her extensive background spans a long and successful career in advertising and marketing which began at J. Walter Thompson, and culminated with Robinson and Weskel Communications, the advertising and public relations firm she owned and managed for many years before retiring in 1994.  In addition, Jane is an accomplished pianist and lyricist whose award-winning jingles were heard on many South Florida radio stations through the 1980s. Ms. Robinson lives in Miami Beach with her husband of 43 years, Dr. Morton J. Robinson. The Robinsons have two children: Jay, an executive with Southern Specialties, who is married to Karyn, and Jenna, a cabaret singer/actress. They are the proud grandparents of Jay and Karyn’s children, eleven year-old Danica and eight-year-old Benjamin.

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