Lipscomb hosts the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, alumni participates
Janel Shoun |
Lipscomb University invites the public to attend the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, Saturday, Dec. 1, beginning at noon in Ward Hall. This is the first time Lipscomb has hosted this national vocal competition, and those in attendance may recognize one of Lipscomb’s own among the participants, Adam Smith, a 2007 graduate from the music department.
Like the 12 other contestants, hailing from as far away as New York and Indiana, Smith, 22, a baritone, will perform five arias. He has chosen arias from La Traviata, Faust, Fidelio, The Marriage of Figaro, and The Old Maid and the Thief.
During his time at Lipscomb, Smith was a member of the A Cappella Singers, Vocal Jazz Ensemble, Early Music Consort, Opera Workshop and Men's Quartet. He won both freshmen and sophomore music awards and was named outstanding performer in 2006 and 2007.
According to the Metropolitan Opera Website, “the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions is a program designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers.” The program gives young singers an opportunity to be heard by professionals in the business, to get an idea of how their vocal development is progressing and to advance professionally.
Young singers, between 20 and 30 years old, compete to travel to New York City and contend for a $15,000 prize. Winners of the 50 district competitions advance to regional auditions, and the 25 regional winners go to New York, and work under the guidance of the Metropolitan Opera artistic staff to compete for the national prize, awarded to five singers.
According to the Met Website, many of the world’s foremost singers have received awards from the National Council, such as: Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Ben Heppner, Jessye Norman, Samuel Ramey, Frederica von Stade, Deborah Voigt and Dolora Zajick. In addition, approximately 100 former auditioners appear annually in Metropolitan Opera productions.
According to Lipscomb music professor Jerry Reed, usually graduate student audition but Lipscomb has had several alumni audition over the years. Smith, is among the youngest auditoners in this year’s group for the Middle/East Tennessee District. The district auditions are held each year in either Nashville or Knoxville.
Officials from the Pensacola Opera, Opera Cleveland and the Moores School of Music University of Houston will serve as judges on Saturday. Others participants will perform arias from Carmen, Cosi fa tutte, Romeo and Juliet, The Barber of Seville, and Porgy and Bess.