Michael Fabiano is a distinguished international opera singer. As a tenor, he regularly performs at leading opera houses worldwide. In 2014, Michael won both the Richard Tucker Award  and the Beverly Sills Artist Award, making him the first singer to win both prestigious honors in the same year. His musical artistry is matched by his passionate commitment to arts education. Michael is the Co-Founder & Executive Director of ArtSmart - a non-profit that transforms the lives of youth in under-resourced communities across the US through tuition-free music lessons and mentorship by paid, professional artists. While opera is his passion, Michael’s large focus is building a better future for Americans seeking greater upward mobility. It is his belief that the arts is one of the great unifiers and a catalyst for success in life. Additionally, as an entrepreneur, Michael is a partner in Resonance, an operating system for creative organizations and businesses that streamlines everything from payroll to spreadsheets and email to employee communication. He is an active private pilot, a life-long baseball umpire, and writes extensively in blogs and articles about the American educative experience. On this episode Michael shares his one way ticket to Mars. Plus, in our sweeping conversation, he highlights why arts education is critical to a child’s development, and why college campuses should be marketplaces of ideas (which he believes they’re currently not). Michael also calls for a re-imagined opera experience, which includes cell phone use and food and drink enjoyed in the theatre itself. Michael is just one of the exceptional individuals featured on the podcast where Host Steven Shalowitz explores with his guest where they would go if given a one way ticket, no coming back! Their destinations may be in the past, present, future, real, imaginary or state of mind.  Steven's guests have included: Nobel Peace Prize Winner, President Jose Ramos-Horta; General David H. Petraeus, US Army (Ret.); Legendary Talk Show Host, Dick Cavett; Law Professor, Alan Dershowitz; Fashion Expert, Tim Gunn; Broadcast Legend, Charles Osgood; International Rescue Committee President & CEO, David Miliband; Former United States Senator, Joseph I. Lieberman; Playwright, David Henry Hwang; Journalist-Humorist-Actor, Mo Rocca; SkyBridge Capital Founder & Co-Managing Partner, Anthony Scaramucci; Abercrombie & Kent Founder, Geoffrey Kent; Travel Expert, Pauline Frommer, as well as leading photographers, artists, chefs, writers, intellectuals, etc.