Metropolitan Opera National Council Announces Eastern Region Final Audition

The Metropolitan Opera National Council, Eastern Region host committee will hold its regional finals auditions Wednesday, January 18th at Merkin Concert Hall (129 West 67th Street) beginning at 1 pm. Twelve singers from the New York City area will compete for cash prizes totaling over $15,000 and a chance to perform on the Met stage at the next level of auditions. Members of the Met's artistic staff and other professionals from the opera world will judge the auditions and give feedback to each participant - a unique and invaluable feature of the National Council program. Each singer will perform two arias. Following the singing, audience members will hear an educational program during the judges' deliberations, after which the winners will be announced. The event concludes with a reception for singers, patrons and special guests. The event is open to the public; tax-deductible donations are solicited to defray administrative expenses and to fund the awards.

The Metropolitan Opera began sponsoring a structured auditions program for young singers in 1935. The Auditions of the Air was indeed the American Idol of its time and was featured on the radio each season - with the exception of the war years - until 1958. Domination of New York City- based singers led to the creation of the Metropolitan Opera National Council in 1952. By the time the Auditions of the Air concluded, the National Council had established a robust network of volunteers throughout the nation which continues to this day. Each year hundreds of volunteers across North America organize and administer the auditions and raise nearly $500,000 in prize money.

Aspiring opera singers who hope to become National Council Auditions winners must succeed at four rounds of competition. District and regional competitions, held throughout the nation beginning in the fall, are administered by local host committees which are responsible for their own fundraising. The semi-final (closed to the public) and final levels (ticketing by Met box office) are administered by and held at the Metropolitan Opera in March. Prize money is awarded at each level. The highly competitive National Council Auditions process offers young singers both the opportunity to launch their operatic careers and the resources they require to do so at a critical moment in their training. This year's National Council Grand Finals Concert, conducted by Nicola Luisotti and hosted by Renee Fleming, will be held on Sunday March 19, 2017 at 3pm.

National Council winners are among the most celebrated singers in the world - sopranos Kathleen Battle and Teresa Stratas, mezzos Stephanie Blythe and Dolora Zajick, and baritones Nathan Gunn, Thomas Hampson and Eric Owens just to name a few. Over 100 National Council participants will appear on the Met roster in any given year. Eastern Region alumni appearing on the Met stage this season include Renee Fleming, Virginie Verrez, Susan Graham and Hei-Kyung Hong.

For more information please visit www.nycmonc.org.