On Tuesday, October 6, 2009, at 7pm, the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies hosted a wine and cheese reception to celebrate the Irish premiere of John Corigliano and William M. Hoffman's "The Ghost of Versailles". This opera of these Lehman College, CUNY, professors premiered at the Wexford Opera House the end of October. A sampling of the opera was performed by pianist Molly Morkoski, soprano Emily Pulley, soprano Caroline Worra, mezzo Cherry Duke, and baritone Kelly Markgraf at the reception which was held in the new Multimedia Center, Carman Hall, Lehman College.

This celebration helped raise funds to continue the work of the CUNY Institute for Irish-American Studies. Funds were budgeted for support of our public events schedule and for stipends for graduate students and part-time faculty involved in Irish-American Studies scholarship.

In addition to attending this wonderful event, we thank those who supported the Institute for Irish-American Studies by placing an advertisement in our printed event program.

Thank you for your continuing support of research of Irish America and promotion of Irish-American Studies.

William M. Hoffman, John Corigliano, Jerry Barnard

Artists Molly Morkoski, Kelly Markgraf, Caroline Worra, Emily Pulley, Cherry Duke, with John Corigliano and William M. Hoffman

Michael Shannon, Donal Farley, Dympna Bowles, and Scott Spencer

Una Faherty, Mary Carroll, and Nora Carroll

Barbara Reinfeld, Anne Marie Wright, and Thomas Ihde

Marita O'Hare, Rita Donleavy, Janet Butler Munch, Richard Blot

Mary Carroll, Ed Shevlin, and Bridie Martin

Jim Carney and William M. Hoffman

Patricia Mullally Scheinberg and Howard Scheinberg

Maureen Needham and Ed Shevlin