Mark Crayton,
countertenor
First Prize
Professional
Division
Mark Crayton created the role of the “First Minstrel” in The Holland Festival’s production of Peter Onnes’ Pantagruel et Gargantua, a role specifically written for him. He has been heard regularly in recitals that have included performances at New York’s Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, a live studio broadcast by Chicago’s classical radio station, and WFMT.
Mr. Crayton is slated to perform with the Elgin Symphony Orchestra, Messiah with the National Chorale at Lincoln Center’s Avery Fisher Hall, his recital debut on Chicago’s acclaimed Jewel Box Series, and a debut with the San Diego Opera. A native of Indianapolis, Mr. Crayton attended Butler University, University of Tennessee and Ravinia’s Steans Institute for Young Artists. Mark Crayton studies with soprano Judith Haddon.
Arietha Lockhart, soprano
Second Place
Professional Division
Arietha Lockhart has appeared as a soloist with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Chamber Chorus in Carnegie Hall, the “Christmas with Robert Shaw” concerts of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chorus, the Robert Shaw Chamber Singers, the Alabama Symphony Orchestra, the Atlanta Bach Choir, the Augusta Choral Society, and the Aspen Opera Theatre. In 2001, Ms. Lockhart won the National Opera Association Competition’s Legacy Award. She placed second in The Center for Contemporary Opera International Competition and was sponsored in a New York debut recital. She is a 2000 winner of the Friedrich Shorr Memorial Prize in Voice. By day, Ms. Lockhart teaches music in a public school. She studies with Elizabeth Colson.
Evan Denmark,tenor
Third Place
Professional Division
Evan Denmark is returning to performance after a long hiatus. His recent operatic roles include Rinuccio in Gianni Schicchi, Beppe in Pagliacci, Don Basilio in The Marriage of Figaro, all with the Lowell Opera Company. Mr. Denmark’s recent solo and oratorio work has included Bruckner’s Requiem, Bach’s Christmas Oratorio and Mozart’s Requiem, as well as guest artist performances with Opera Providence, and the Longwood Opera summer concert series. He will appear this year as Sam in Susannah for the Heartwood Regional Theatre, and as Rodolfo in La Boheme for Longwood Opera. Mr. Denmark currently resides in the Boston area and studies with Maria Spacagna.
Carla Mueller, soprano
Honorable mention
Professional Division
Carla Mueller has sung in Germany with the Krefeld opera, performing the roles of Gilda in Verdi’s Rigoletto, Zerbinetta in Strauss’s’ Ariadne auf Naxos, Adina in Donizetti’s L’Elisir D’Amore, and Oscar in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera. She has also sung with Glimmerglass Opera as Merry in The Mighty Casey, and as Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Lyric Opera of Waco. In Italy, Ms. Mueller has sung Donna Elvira in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia with the Amalfi Coast Festival. She currently studies with Madeline Sanders in Texas and holds a master’s in music from Yale.
NaGuanda Miller-Nobles, soprano
First Prize
Young Artist Division
NaGuanda Miller-Nobles received her Master’s in voice at Florida State University. She participated in the Austin Lyric Opera’s Young Artist Program, and made her ALO debut performing the role of Sister Rose in Jake Heggie’s Dead Man Walking and Liu in Puccini’s Turandot. She made her Boston Symphony debut in Wynton Marsalis’ All Rise, under the baton of Kurt Masur. She won second place in the Southwest Regional Met competition and first place in the Opera Birmingham competition.
Diego Matamoros,baritone
Second Place
Young Artist Division
While studying in New York, Diego Matamoros sang Masetto with the American Singers’ Opera Project, and Figaro in Le Nozze di Figaro with the Jade Opera Company. This past summer, he appeared as Frank in Die Fledermaus, and as Junius in The Rape of Lucretia at the Intermezzo Young Artists Development Program. Mr. Matamoros has also performed opera and oratorio roles in Europe for the Coro Universitario di Firenze and the Chœurs de Paris XIIIème. He is currently in Italy performing Guglielmo in Così fan tutte for the Oberlin in Italy program and will be a voice major at Yale in the fall.
Joslin Romphf, soprano
Third Place
Young Artist Division
Joslin Romphf, a soprano from Canada, will join the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera this fall. She has a Masters from Curtis Institute of Music. In 2001, she won third place in the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra Canadian Concerto Competition. In the 2001-2002 season, Ms. Romphf made her professional debut with the Opera Company of Philadelphia as Gianetta in L’Elisir d’Amore. In 2003, she took part in the acclaimed Savonlinna production of Macbeth for the Opera Company of Philadelphia.
