See the Opera Stars of Tomorrow Compete in the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions at Detroit Opera House

See the Opera Stars of Tomorrow Compete in the Metropolitan Opera National Council District Auditions at Detroit Opera House

DETROIT, Nov. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Opera lovers, music students and the public are all invited to attend an exciting day of opera auditions at the Detroit Opera House on Saturday, Nov. 19.

The event is part of the New York-based Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions. Now in its 59th year, the auditions will engage more than 1,500 singers between the ages of 20 and 30 in the nation's longest-running singing competition.

In Detroit, up to 40 singers will compete for the chance to advance to regional and, ultimately, the national semi and Grand Finals next March in New York. Detroit auditions will be held from 9:30 a.m. till 4:30 p.m. District winners will be selected by three judges from the opera world. Each winner will receive a cash prize and the chance to advance to regional competition. The Detroit auditions are held with the support of the Michigan Opera Theater. Admission at the door is $10 for adults and $5 for students.

The Detroit auditions are run by the Michigan District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council, or MONC. The MONC auditions are designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers. More than 100 alumni of the National Council Auditions sing in Met performances during a typical opera season.

The District Auditions require applicants to be prepared to sing five operatic arias in the original languages and keys. The applicants will be permitted to sing a first aria of his/her choice; three visiting judges may then request and choose a second aria for the applicant to sing.

Past winners of the Michigan district finals include Nathaniel Peake, tenor, a Michigan State University graduate who went on to win at the Grand Finals in New York; Jennifer Rowley, who is performing in Europe and won the first prize in the Gerda Lissner Foundation International Vocal Competition; and Kisma Jordan, a Detroit native now studying at the Peabody Conservatory in Baltimore.

The Skillman Foundation is the lead sponsor for the auditions. Skillman funded a special program for Detroit music students and their teachers to attend the competition, enjoy lunch and hear special presentations from past winners and opera educators. Flagstar Bank and MGM Grand Detroit also supported the event, as did a handful of private individuals.

CONTACT: Co-directors of the Michigan District are Glen Peterson, 616.540.6245, or Dr. Ted Fellenbaum, 810.515.6470. Or visit the Met's website at www.metoperafamily.org.

SOURCE Metropolitan Opera National Council

Metropolitan Opera National Council

CONTACT: Mary Kramer, +1-248-229-5606, themarykramer@gmail.com

Web Site: http://www.metoperafamily.org

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