Jacobs student gets one step closer to Met Opera

If you asked Laura Wilde in elementary school what she wanted to be when she grew up, she’d probably have told you a lawyer.

Wilde, whose initials spell out ‘law,’ took a different path from courtrooms and case briefs.

Instead, this second-year master’s student in the Jacobs School of Music has become one of the top young opera singers in the country.

After placing first in the Tri-State Regional competition of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Wilde earned a spot to sing at the National Semi-Finals on Sunday at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

Although music was always a part of Wilde’s life, she didn’t begin to study opera until halfway through her undergraduate career at St. Olaf College in Northfield, Minn.

“I sang and danced around just for fun, but my biggest thing was playing trumpet starting in fifth grade,” she said. “I didn’t even start singing until my senior year of high school.”

Wilde started her undergraduate degree studying trumpet performance.

“Halfway through I switched to voice, just because it was a better fit,” she said.

Wilde said continuing her graduate studies at Jacobs was the perfect next step.

“The undergrad program is so small, and there’s not really an opera program there,” she said of St. Olaf. “At a place like IU, with this many productions a year, there are a lot more opportunities and at the same time so much talent. It was a really good next step, a really good fit.”

Wilde has performed in several of Jacobs’ productions, including the role of Prince Charming in “Cendrillon” last year.

Wilde’s professor at Jacobs is Costanza Cuccaro, who has been teaching at IU for 16 years. Cuccaro’s main focus for her students is strong vocal technique, she said.

“Vocal technique is the basis of really healthy and successful singing,” Cuccaro said.
“It gives you the freedom to fly vocally. Once you’re technically solid there isn’t much
you can’t do onstage.”

Along with studying with Cuccaro, Wilde has been researching to prepare for the competition.

“I’m watching the operas the arias come from, trying to know the stories and characters as well as I can,” she said. “I’m trying to make sure the least of my worries is essentially the singing.”

Wilde will be performing “The Composer’s Aria” from Richard Strauss’ opera “Ariadne auf Naxos.” The second piece will be chosen by the Council members during the auditions.

“I don’t really have expectations,” she said. “I just hope it’s a great experience. I’m excited, but it’s also kind of nerve-wracking.”

Cuccaro, however, said she believes in her student.

“The MAC stage is just like the Met’s — Laura will feel right at home,” she said. “She has a beautiful timbre and color and an extraordinarily good range.”

What really sets Wilde apart, Cuccaro said, is her love of performing.

“When she gets up to sing, what permeates through the audience is her pure love and joy of singing,” she said. “When she’s on stage, you can tell there’s no place she’d rather be.”