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The 8th Annual Career Bridges Gala Concert and Dinner held on May 18, 2010, at the Jumeirah Essex House in New York City was the most successful yet. During the elegant evening Distinguished Achievement Awards were presented to international opera star, Marcello Giordani, and renowned playwright of Master Class, Terrence McNally. A Lifetime Achievement Award went to celebrated conductor of The New York City Opera and The Metropolitan Opera and founder of  New York Grand Opera, Vincent La Selva, and a surprised Rafael Sanchez, noted designer, was called upon to accept an Artistic Achievement Award given in honor of his invaluable support of young singers and the work of Career Bridges.
(David Bender, Barbara Meister Bender and Rafael Sanchez)
Maestra Eve Queler of The Opera Orchestra of New York accepted the Distinguished Achievement award on behalf of Marcello Giordani who was in rehearsals for Faust at La Scala. Speaking eloquently of her work with Giordani, she recounted how impressed she was with his technique and musicianship when she featured him in Rossini's Guillaume Tell. For that production his aria, "O muto asil del pianto," stopped show for a 15-minute ovation.
 Metropolitan Opera radio broadcaster Margaret Juntwait introduced Maestro Vincent La Selva of the New York Grand Opera. She noted his passion for bringing free opera to the public and his mentoring of three generations of young opera singers.
(Maestro Vincent La Selva and David Bender)
Zoe Caldwell, who played opera diva Maria Callas in Master Class, was, unfortunately, unable to attend as planned to make the presentation to Terrence McNally. Accepting his award McNally spoke of Licia Albanese as being an inspiration for his play writing.
To the immense delight of the many diners, the concert featured seven of the 2010 grant winners ably assisted by grant winners from previous years. There were many highlights in the evening including the La Bohème quartet sung by Michelle Trovato, Samantha Grenell-Zaidmann, Laurence Broderick and Ross Benoliel, Joo Won Kang's rendition of the famous "Prologue" from I Pagliacci, Samantha Grenell-Zaidmann's and Jarell Williams' charming Papagena/Papageno duet from The Magic Flute, and the haunting Rachmaninoff song, "Nji poi krasavistsa pri mnje," sung by Valentina Fleer.
(Career Bridges grant winners with Barbara Meister Bender and David Bender)
There were divas in abundance. Licia Albanese, Lucine Amara, Jane Marsh, Elinor Ross and Jane Shaulis were all present.
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