After a worldwide search, Houston Grand Opera has chosen the members of the 2014–15 HGO Studio program. One of the most respected and highly competitive young artist programs in the world, the HGO Studio provides comprehensive career development to young artists who have demonstrated potential to make major contributions to the field of opera. The HGO Studio received applications from 552 artists; of those, about 250 were heard in Houston, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, and San Francisco. From these auditions, six candidates were awarded positions in the Studio for the 2014–15 season.
Houston Grand Opera (HGO) has announced the winners for the 26th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers that took place the evening of January 30 at the Wortham Theater Center's Cullen Theater in front of a capacity crowd.
Twelve exceptionally talented young singer-actors, with previous stage experience ranging from roles on Broadway to the Metropolitan Opera House, have been named finalists in the 2013 Lotte Lenya Competition. They will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500 on Saturday, April 13, 2013, at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York. Acclaimed soprano and 2010 Opera News Award winner Patricia Racette, British opera and musical theater conductor James Holmes, and Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization President and American Theater Wing Vice-Chairman Theodore S. Chapin will serve as judges.