Met Opera to hold auditions at Jacobs school, MAC

Those interested in seeing the future of opera will get their chance this Saturday.

Indiana District’s round of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions will begin at noon at the Jacobs School of Music and Musical Arts Center.

Only seven of the 26 singers auditioning are not from IU.

Mary Ann Hart, chair of the Jacobs School department of voice and the event’s faculty chair, said IU has more national finals winners than any other school.

Students will begin by performing an aria, a self-contained piece for one voice, from a package of five they put together.

The judges may then ask for a second, often contrasting aria. Auditions are free and open to the public.

Former General Director of Florentine Opera and the Atlanta Opera Dennis Hanthorn, vocal coach and artistic consultant Susan Ashbaker and artist manager and consultant Ken Benson will judge the auditions.

IU first lady Laurie Burns McRobbie served as the director of the Indiana District and will be the mistress of ceremonies.

Contestants will be judged on the quality of their voices, expression, polish and originality.

Judges want people who sound authentic rather than rehearsed, Hart said.

“They want to see someone be expressive because the music means something to them,” she said. “Someone with a communicative gift.”

IU is in one of 40 districts competing in 13 regions across the U.S. and Canada.
Regional winners will go to New York to compete in the national semifinals at the Metropolitan Opera.

The national finalists then compete in the Grand Finals Concert for five grand prizes of $15,000.

“It’s a big opportunity for the school,” Hart said. “The Metropolitan Opera is the crown jewel of the opera world.”

Maria Levy, auditions and casting coordinator for IU Opera Theater and coordinator of the event, said the singers who audition are the singers with potential to have opera careers.

The competition is an opportunity for the Metropolitan Opera to hear talent from all across the country. Winners could end up in the Opera’s young artist program.

“This is a very important step for the singers because it can open a lot of doors,” she said.

Even if the students do not win this round, they can talk to the judges after the competition and receive feedback.

“This competition really launches a young singer,” Hart said. “I hope everyone sings well and learns something, and I hope we bring home all the prizes.”