Dallas Opera Guild to Host Vocal Competition, 3/15

By: Feb. 27, 2014
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The Dallas Opera Guild will present the 26th Annual "Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition," an on-stage showcase for talented young opera singers with Texas connections on Saturday, March 15, 2014 in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, 2403 Flora Street, Dallas, TX 75201.

This marks the fourth time this eagerly anticipated vocal competition will be held in the acoustically acclaimed Winspear Opera House.

There is no charge for admission to any part of the event (although donations are definitely welcome), and Lexus Red Garage parking is available for just $5 cash for both the Semi-final Round, from 11:30 AM until 4:30 PM, and the Finals Round of the Guild competition, starting at 7:30 PM that same evening (no in-and-out).

Twenty semi-finalists (aged 18 to 30) chosen from a field of 59 qualified applicants will compete for thousands of dollars in prize monies ($19,000 was awarded in 2007, 2009, and 2010; $20,500 in 2011; $20,000 in 2012; $25,000 in 2013) at this year's competition, open to singers preparing for a career in the field of opera. They must be current Texas residents or out-of-state residents attending a Texas college or university.

Judges for this year's event include:

· Michael Heaston (Director, "Domingo-Cafritz Young Artist Program," Washington National Opera and Director, Young Artists Program and Head of Music Staff, Glimmerglass Festival)

· Roberto Mauro (Artistic Administrator, Canadian Opera Company)

· Andreas Melinat (Director of Artistic Administration, Lyric Opera of Chicago)

· Evans Mirageas (Artistic Director, Cincinnati Opera and Vice-president of Artistic Planning, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra)

· And from The Dallas Opera, Artistic Director Jonathan Pell, who also acts as artistic advisor to this eagerly anticipated annual competition.

Preliminary judges for this year's competition included Dallas Opera Music Director of Education and Family Programming and Adjunct Faculty at the University of North Texas Mary Dibbern; world-renowned tenor Clifton Forbis, recent star of the Dallas Opera's Tristan und Isolde and Associate Professor and Chair of Voice at SMU's Meadows School of the Arts; and Dr. Stephen Dubberly, Opera Music Director at the University of North Texas.

The singers in both the semi-final and finals rounds on March 15th will be accompanied by TDO's Laurie Rogers and Jason Smith an accompanist and faculty vocal coach at Southern Methodist University, with guest pianists Jeffrey Arnold, Saule Garcia and Jeffrey Peterson.

However, the judging isn't left entirely to the professionals; the amateur music lovers get to express their views, too.

Audience participation, in fact, is part of the fun at each year's Dallas Opera Vocal Competition and, for the fifteenth consecutive year, attendees will be given the chance to sit down with a ballot and vote on their personal favorites for "The People's Choice Award."

The Dallas Opera Guild's Vocal Competition, not only provides vital assistance to the young opera stars of tomorrow, but also creates an outstanding opportunity for people from throughout the community to hear exceptional up-and-coming talents, in free performances in a magnificent setting.

The 2014 Semi-Finalists:

· Erin Alcorn, soprano, 24

· Cristina Bakhoum, mezzo-soprano, 28

· Nicholas Brownlee, bass-baritone, 24

· Bille Bruley, tenor, 25

· Natalie Turner, soprano, 24

· Rebekah Howell, soprano, 22

· Moretta Irchirl, mezzo-soprano, 20

· Youna Jang, soprano, 30

· Sooyeon Kang, soprano, 24

· Jeawook Lee, tenor, 30

· Natalie Logan, soprano, 22

· Trevor Martin, baritone, 25

· Audra Methvin, soprano, 27

· Sara Clemintine Mire, soprano, 18

· Chaazi Munyanya, mezzo-soprano, 24

· Said Pressley, bass-baritone,27

· Coretta Smith, soprano, 27

· Reginald Smith, Jr, baritone, 25

· Matthew Stump, bass-baritone, 24

· Brent Turner, tenor, 30

"The Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition offered much-needed career and financial support at a crucial time in my life," says Jennifer Black (First Prize, People's Choice Award, 2001). "I had just completed my studies at the University of Texas at San Antonio, as well as my first summer with San Francisco's Merola Opera Program, and was on my way to The Yale School of Music.

"The chance to participate in this competition was a real 'vote of confidence' that encouraged me to continue on this path I had chosen. I feel blessed to have been a recipient of the Guild's generous support."

This free, spring musical event has become a favorite among opera aficionados and vocal music lovers across North Texas. For additional information about the 25th Annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition, please contact The Dallas Opera Guild at 214-443-1040.

Pictured: Finalist Amanda Woodbury, performing in competition.



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