CCM Hosts Met Opera Regional Auditions This Saturday

Hear the opera stars of tomorrow compete for a chance to “win the Met” and kick-start a major operatic career at the Metropolitan Opera District Council Auditions for Southern Ohio. This free event will take place 10 a.m.–6 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 20, in Robert J. Werner Recital Hall at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM).

Local audiences have the opportunity to sample operatic selections sung by some of Southern Ohio’s most talented young singers throughout the day at this event!

Each year, the Metropolitan Opera holds National Council Auditions throughout the country and Canada in order to discover promising young singers, give singers from around the country a chance to be heard by the major opera companies of the United States and Canada, and find potential participants for the Lindemann Young Artist Development program, an opera training program sponsored by the Met. There are three rounds of competition — district, regional and national. The Southern Ohio district is one of 42 districts throughout the U.S. and Canada.

The winners of the Southern Ohio district will advance to the regional auditions, held in Chicago. Last year, CCM students Alisa Jordheim and Nick Ward won district auditions in Wisconsin and Southern Ohio. Out of the pool of incredibly advanced and polished singers, approximately 10 are chosen each year as finalists in the national competition, and from those, approximately five “win the Met.” The five Grand Winners receive $15,000 each, and many go on to successful careers as opera stars. The process of this rigorous and stressful competition was documented in The Audition, a film following the finalists of the 2007 auditions.

Past winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions include Renee Fleming, Susan Graham, Samuel Ramey, Frederica von Stade and Deborah Voigt.

Learn more about the National Council Auditions at www.metoperafamily.org/metopera/auditions/national/index.aspx.

Event Time
10 a.m.–6 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20

Location
Robert J. Werner Recital Hall, College-Conservatory of Music
University of Cincinnati

Admission
Admission to the Metropolitan Opera District Council Auditions for Southern Ohio is FREE. Reservations are not required.

Parking and Directions
Parking is available in the CCM Garage (located at the base of Corry Boulevard off Jefferson Avenue) and additional garages throughout the UC campus. Please visit uc.edu/parking for more information on parking rates.

For directions to CCM Village, visit ccm.uc.edu/about/directions.

CCM Season Presenting Sponsor: The Otto M. Budig Family Foundation