Metropolitan Opera District Auditions
2010-2011 Season Kentucky District Auditions
Dates: November 20, 2010 (tentative)
Time: to be announced
Location: Memorial Hall (on the campus of the University of Kentucky)
National Council Auditions Application
Please include photo (headshot) or forward via e-mail (preferred)
The purpose of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions program, established in 1953, is to provide a venue for young opera singers from all over the United States and all different levels of experience to be heard by a representative of the Metropolitan Opera, to discover new talent for the Metropolitan Opera, and to search for possible participants in the Lindemann Young Artists Development Program. This Metropolitan Opera program was designed in 1980 for the purpose of nurturing the most talented young artists through training and performance opportunities. The program provides financial aid together with closely supervised artistic direction, led by a team of experienced administrators and prominent artists at the Met.
Applicants must be prepared to sing a minimum of five operatic arias in their original language and key. Selections should demonstrate contrasting style as well as languages. After each audition program, candidates are given the opportunity to meet with the judges personally to discuss matters of evaluation and advice, an aspect of these auditions that makes them unique.
The annual auditions start at the district level and contestants may choose to compete in any district regardless of their place of residence. There is no set number of singers to advance, but typically two to four winners from each district compete in the regionals. Approximately 1,500 singers participate each year in sixteen regions across the country. The first place regional winners go on to the National Council Auditions Semi-Finals in New York the following spring. Eight to ten singers are selected as the National Finalists and perform in the Winners Concert on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.
2009 Results
The Kentucky District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, held on November 14, 2009 at Memorial Hall in Lexington, KY were judged by Douglas Almsted, Richard Best and Carol Vaness. Four winners were selected:
Eric Brown, baritone, age 29, lives in Lexington, KY and is a Doctoral candidate at the University of Kentucky.
Jeremy Parker, soprano, age 23, lives in Cincinnati, OH and is pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music.
Paulette Maria Penzvalto, mezzo-soprano, age 28, lives in Avon OH and is pursuing private study at Oberlin Conservatory, Oberlin, OH.
R. Kenneth Stavert, baritone, age 25, lives in Cincinnati, OH and is pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Cincinnati College- Conservatory of Music.
The winners of the Kentucky District Auditions will advance to the Tri-State Regional Auditions on January 16, 2010 in Indianapolis, IN. The Regional winners will travel to the Semi-Finals on March 7, 2010 in New York. The Grand Finals Winner Concert on the Met stage, scheduled for March 14, 2010, is open to the public; and the singers will be accompanied by the Met Orchestra.
In addition, the judges awarded the Encouragement Award to Holly Flack, soprano, age 22. She lives in Lexington, KY and is pursuing a Master’s degree at the University of Kentucky.
Link to media coverage of 2009 Kentucky District Auditions
National Council Staff:
Gayletha Nichols, Executive Director
Melanie Rosa, Assistant Director
Camille LaBarre, National Chairman
Joseph Barnett, President
Frederica von Stade, National Advisor
Tri-State Region Chairman:
Arthur Caspar
Kentucky District Director:
Dr. Clifton Smith
Related Site:
Kentucky District Auditions
www.kydistrictauditions.org
