Student wins national opera contest

It's not every day that a young singer wins the Metropolitan Opera's National Counsel Auditions. Upon receiving such a high honor, most would want to tell everyone they meet of their accomplishment, basking in all the praise and glory. But one of this year's winners, IU graduate student Christina Pier, remains humble. As colleague after colleague approaches her with enthusiastic congratulations, Pier shyly smiles and thanks them.\n"IU can be so overwhelming at first," Pier said. \nOriginally from Flagstaff, Ariz., Pier is currently working on her Master's of Music at the IU School of Music. \n"I came to IU because of the outstanding reputation of the music school," she said. "When you sit in the MAC and see a production, you can't think of any other place you'd rather study."\nBut the road to success has not been easy for Pier. Like many young singers, Pier has gone through years of intensive study to get where she is today. \n"As a young singer you have to be extremely patient," Pier said. "You really have to develop a solid technique before you begin to audition." \nPier began studying technique as an undergraduate with Professor Patricia Havranek, and later as a graduate student with Distinguished Professor of Voice Virginia Zeani.\n"I've always believed in her qualities," Zeani said. "Christina has one of the most beautiful voices in America today. She is a very hard worker." \nDuring her year off between her undergraduate and graduate program, Pier had the chance to study with Zeani while working as a babysitter: Her employers gave her singing lessons with Zeani as a Christmas present. She has now studied with the legendary soprano for four years.\n"Ms. Zeani has helped me to further develop my technique, as well as my dramatic connection to the music," Pier said. \nPier began her road to the winner's circle at the regional part of the competition, held at IU earlier this year. She and two other regional winners, IU students Christopher Burchett and Andrew Oakden, went on to the tri-state competition, held in Cincinnati, Ohio. Pier was chosen as a winner there and went on to New York for the semi-finals round, where she competed against 22 other students. IU students Stephanie Dawn Johnson, Jung Won Shin and Kate Mangiameli also sang in the semi-finals round. From there, Pier and Shin were chosen as two of the nine finalists.\nDuring the week before the final competition, the chosen singers were able to stay in New York for a week. While there, they coached with some of the staff from the Metropolitan Opera and worked with directors on auditioning techniques. Four winners, including Pier, were picked from the final round to sing on the Met stage.\nAccording to The Metropolitan Opera's Web site, the auditions are a nationwide competition in which up to five winners can receive $15,000 with remaining finalists receiving $5,000.\n"I have some future plans now, but this has brought me offers for more auditions," Pier said. \nPier travels to Florida next to compete in the Palm Beach Opera Competition and will go on to New York to compete in the Richard Tucker Foundation Competition. \nPier will spend the month of May singing with the Glimmerglass Opera Company and will go on to cover roles at Florida Grand Opera in the fall. \nPier's advice to young singers is to find a teacher whose technique is crucial in one's belief.\n"But it's very important to be musical, as well as technical," Pier said. "An extensive language background is necessary as well." \nAfter all her time studying at IU, Pier looks back thoughtfully. \n"I've watched so many people grow up here," she said. "I remember when I was an undergraduate and I watched great singers like Angela Brown win the Met Competition. I'd watch older singers in rehearsals, and aspire to accomplish what they were accomplishing. Seeing them succeed gave all the younger singers the hope that it was all possible"