New York City is the place to be. At least it was for this year’s AudComps participants. The AudComps is a combined audition and competition that not only awards the winners a myriad of prizes but provides them with the best possible thing for their résumés—opportunities. The finalists in each division compete in the Finals Concert open to the public as well as attending opera companies, managers, and festival directors. Experience and exposure—what more could you ask for? Oh right . . . prizes.
Prizes, Opportunities, and Feedback
In the Professional Division, first-, second-, and third-place winners received cash prizes of $5,000, $2,000, and $1,000 respectively. The first-place winner also received a recording session with Gurari Studios, a headshot session with Devon Cass Photography, and a guaranteed lead-role contract with Sacramento Opera.
“I’m thrilled with the level of artists that are competing in the Classical Singer event,” said Timm Rolek, artistic director of Sacramento Opera. “The bar is set higher each year, and I plan to continue offering a role as part of the prize package.
“Dana Beth Miller won the event in 2006 and sang Desdemona with us last season and will be featured in a concert here this September. Rochelle Bard won in 2007 and will sing Musetta with us next spring. And I will be talking this summer with this year’s winner, Katrina Thurman, about what we will do together in 2009-10.”
In the Emerging Professional Division, the top three received $2,500, $1,000, and $500 respectively, and the first-place winner also received a recording session with Gurari Studios, a headshot session with Devon Cass Photography, and a guaranteed lead-role contract with Opera Fort Collins.
This is the first year Opera Fort Collins has offered a prize. Company director Todd Queen had this to say about the experience: “Thank you for the opportunity to participate in this year’s Convention. The caliber of singing and the overall atmosphere is very professional—a real treat! We are thrilled that JinHwan [Byun] will be joining us for the 2009-10 season, and we are in talks about him [about] singing Alfredo in ‘Traviata.’”
In the Young Artist/University Division, the cash prize amounts were $1,000, $700, and $300, with the first-place winner also receiving a recording session with Gurari Studios, a headshot session with Devon Cass Photography, and a tuition-free spot for American Institute of Musical Studies in 2009. Gustavo Halley of AIMS was equally pleased with the quality of singing. “I thoroughly enjoyed judging the competition and was incredibly impressed with the caliber of singing we heard that day,” said Halley. “We would have been happy to offer scholarships to all of the finalists. Maybe someday.”
