Awards
Distinguished Alumni of the Year
Classical singer, Bridgette "Bri" Cooper was awarded the ECU School of Music Distinguised Alumni Award from Fletcher School of Music where she studied voice with Soprano, Antonia Dalapas, and majored in Operatic Performance and minored in piano. It was a great honor and a moment of validation for the years of hard work that has been put into sharing her love of music. The purpose of the Distinguished Alumni Award is to recognize an alumnus who is making an outstanding contribution to the world of music through performance, music education or music therapy.After graduating from ECU, Ms. Cooper toured throughout the US and Europe in opera and recital. She also received a grant from the District of Columbia Arts and Humanities to work with the inner city yourth by teaching and having them create opera.
Conversations Magazine Top 25 Women of the Year
Recognized in Conversations Magazine's Top 25 Women of the Year for her dedication and contribution to the world of opera, music education, and arts advocacy.
Paul Robeson National Vocal Competition
The vocal competition aimed to celebrate and promote excellence in vocal performance, reflecting Robeson’s own achievements in opera and concert singing.
Marian Anderson Scholar
Critically acclaimed classical singer, actress, and recording artist Bridgette Cooper is a Marian Anderson Scholar and was guest soloist for the 73rd Annual Lincoln Memorial Concert Revisited. The conference was held at the Philadelphia Convention Center. Ms. Cooper opened the program with the same song that Marian Anderson performed on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939.
Marjorie Lawrence International Singing Competition
Bri Cooper was awarded semi-finalist in the Marjorie Lawrence Interna.tional Vocal Competition. Austrailian opera singer, Marjorie Lawrence made her professional debut occurred in Monte Carlo playing “Elizabeth” in Tannhäuser. She was an instant success. Afterwards, she appeared at the Paris Opera from 1933-38, and critics began hailing her as one of the great sopranos. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut in 1935 and was famous for riding her horse into the flames on stage in the finale of the opera Götterdämmerung.
Bel Canto Awards of Chicago
Bri was a finalist in the Bel Canto Awards of Chicago. The awards are dedicated to promoting the bel canto style of opera, which emphasizes beauty of tone, legato phrasing, and expressive vocal technique.
National Association of Teachers of Singing State and Regional Finalist
While in college, Bri competed in the NATS Competition for the first time. She was named a finalist in the state and regional competitions. Throughout its history, the purpose of [NATSAA] has been to select, through a series of elimination rounds on the district, regional, and national levels, singers whose artistry indicates that they are ready for a professional career and to encourage them toward that goal with a cash prize and the opportunity for performance engagements.