People & Places: District auditions for Metropolitan Opera held in Tulsa
BY DANNA SUE WALKER World Staff Writer
Wednesday, January 23, 2013
1/23/13 at 12:58 PM
Correction
This story originally contained incorrect ages for two singers. The story has been corrected.
An appearance on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City is the prize.
For young singers to reach that ultimate achievement in opera, the journey begins with the Metropolitan Opera Auditions, which include district and regional competitions.
The Tulsa District Auditions were held recently at the Cascia Hall Performing Arts Center, and the three winners will go on to compete regionally in St. Louis on Feb. 2 with the winners of the Kansas City and St. Louis Districts. Only one will advance to New York for the national competition.
Midwest Regional Auditions will be held at 7:30 p.m. Feb. 2 at the Ethical Society of St. Louis, 9001 Clayton Road, St. Louis, Mo. It is free and open to the public.
The National Council Grand Finals Concert will be held at 3 p.m. March 10 at the Metropolitan Opera, Lincoln Center, New York, N.Y. Tickets are available at tulsaworld.com/metopera
Co-winners of the Tulsa District Auditions were Steven Eddy, 27, baritone; J. Warren Mitchell, 27, tenor; and Maren Weinberger, 23, soprano. The three singers were chosen from a field of 30.
Tevyn Hill, 20, tenor, and Elizabeth Youngblood, 21, mezzo-soprano, were recipients of the Trudy Oliphant Young Singer Encouragement Award. Judges Darren Woods, general director of Fort Worth Opera; Elizabeth Hynes, associate professor of vocal arts and opera, University of Southern California; Gerald Dolter, director of music theatre, chair of the vocal division and associate professor of music at Texas Tech University; and the winners were honored at a special dinner at The Summit Club following the District Auditions.
Each district winner receives $1,500, and each Encouragement Award winner receives $600. The Tulsa District Awards include the Patti Johnson Wilson Foundation Award; the Doris Wellemeyer and Kendall Sherrill Awards, given by Jimmy and Marilyn Strange; the Albert and Hete Barthelmes Foundation Award; the Richard D. Turley Memorial Award, given by Ron and Katie Petrikin; and the Trudy Oliphant Sundgren Young Singer Encouragement Award.
Production sponsors were Margo Wallace, Shirley Carle and District Co-Directors Susan and Dr. Timothy Young.
Premier patrons were Barbara and Ron Glass, Charles Johnston and Kelly Kirby, Kathleen and Leonard Pataki, Dixie Reppe, and Doris Wellemeyer. Patrons were Rick and Jeanette Dunn, Myriam and Rainer Dupont, Polly and Don Hamilton, Joseph Kestner and Anna Norberg, Gina and Mike Lodes, and Mark Nelson.
Corporate sponsors include Sid Shupack and First State Investment Advisors, Bank of Oklahoma, and F & M Bank and Trust Company.
Volunteers helping conduct the auditions included Jerry Henry, Leonard Pataki, Nancy Henry, Kathleen Pataki, Eric Gibson, Sara Maher, Nick Saulnier, David Young, Kay Maher and Dixie Reppe.
Others at the dinner included Susan and Dr. Tim Young, Becky and Robert Billings, Shirley Carle and Bill Salwaechter, Donna and Philip Diggdon, Myriam and Rainer DuPont, Phyllis and Harvey Gaspar, Linda and Stephen Greubel, Herbert Haschke and Beverly Smith, Nancy and Jerry Henry, Frankie and Carleton James, Gina and Mike Lodes, Kay and Franklin Miller, Mark Nelson and Meg Groves, Dixie Reppe and William Harjo, Madge Turley, Nita and Burl Watson, and Chris Rothermel and Sarah Coburn, who were the special guests of Regional Co-Directors Barbara and Ronald Glass.
Activities leading up to the District Auditions included a members reception at Harwelden and a dinner for the judges hosted by Regional Co-Directors Barbara and Ron Glass.
The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Program is designed to discover exceptional young singers and assist in the development of their musical careers. The auditions also feed the search for new talent for the Metropolitan Opera and its Lindeman Young Artist Development Program.
Original Print Headline: Metropolitan Opera auditions held
Associated Images:
Elizabeth Hynes (front row, left), Susan Young, Kathleen Pataki and Barbara Glass join Gerald Dolter (standing, left), Timothy Young, Len Pataki, Darren Woods and Ron Glass at the celebration dinner at the Summit Club for the Tulsa District Auditions of the Metropolitan Opera. JOEY JOHNSON / for the Tulsa World
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