Seventh Annual MILDRED MILLER INTERNATIONAL VOICE COMPETITION Announced

The seventh annual Mildred Miller International Voice Competition leads Pittsburgh Festival Opera's search for America's best singers. Young professionals ages 18-35 compete for cash prizes and solo roles in the 2018 Summer Season, June 22-July 29, 2018. An esteemed panel of judges led by Mildred Miller Posvar, company founder, selects the finalists on Saturday and Sunday, October 21 and 23.

The Miller Competition is a prologue to OPERA America's National Opera Week, Oct. 27-Nov. 5, 2018, when Pittsburgh Festival Opera will feature varied live and online events.

WQED-FM's Jim Cunningham is back as our master of ceremonies for the finals. Eight singers, selected by the judges from Saturday's Semi-Final Round, will present arias during the Final Round. From these eight finalists, three will be selected as winners and a fourth will be chosen as "Audience Favorite." Winners receive cash prizes ranging from $4,000 to $6,000 and resident artist contracts in Pittsburgh Festival Opera's 2018 summer season. Contestants 18-35 may apply via:http://pittsburghfestivalopera.org/about-us/voice-competition

In 2017, the panel of five judges includes: Mildred Miller Posvar, founder of Pittsburgh Festival Opera and acclaimed Metropolitan Opera mezzo soprano

Jonathan Eaton, artistic director of Pittsburgh Festival Opera and Professor of Music/Margot and Bill Winspear Chair in Opera Studies, University of North Texas College of Music

Robert Chafin, tenor, assistant professor of voice, West Virginia University School of Music

Timothy LeFevre, baritone and associate professor of singing, Oberlin College Conservatory

And another colleague TBA.

Pianists are James Lesniak and Stephen Variames

SEMIFINALS
Saturday 21 October 2017
11 am-1 pm and 3-6 pm
FREE ADMISSION
Kresge Theater
College of Fine Arts building
Carnegie Mellon University (Oakland 15213).

Kresge Theatre (also known as Kresge Recital Hall) is located in the College of Fine Arts building on the campus of Carnegie Mellon University. To find Kresge Theatre, enter the College of Fine Arts building from the west (main) entrance closest to the College of Fine Arts Lawn.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 22
FINAL ROUND
2-5 pm Frick Art & Historical Center
7227 Reynolds Street
Pittsburgh, PA (Point Breeze 15208).

Audience members may explore The Frick and its new exhibit "Undressed" on the history of undergarmets prior the competition and during intermission.
The galleries open at 10 am. Admission is free.
http://www.thefrickpittsburgh.org/

Tickets (general admission) at $35 include refreshments during the intermission while the judges deliberate. Students with a valid ID may reserve free tickets in advance. Walk-up student admission with valid ID will be dependent on seat availability.

VIP PACKAGE
VIP package at $125 includes preferred seating for the Final Round, and a post-concert reception ?with the contestants and judges in a nearby private home.

Tickets and details at: Pittsburgh Festival Opera (pittsburghfestivalopera.org)

Mildred Miller Posvar was a leading Metropolitan Opera arist for 23 years, performing such signature roles as Carmen, Octavian, and more in New York and around the world. She foundEd Pittsburgh Festival Opera (formerly Opera Theater of Pittsburgh) in 1978. Mrs. Posvar teaches voice at Carnegie Mellon University and is an active member of the Festival's Board of Directors.

The company's competition named for her began in 2001. In 2016, applications were received from 156 singers from 14 countries; 23 of these singers were invited to Pittsburgh for the semi-finals round on Saturday 29 October. Nine singers were selected to continue to the finals round. There, audiences enjoyed arias by a wide range of composers-and after a difficult process, the judges awarded four prizes.

In its seventh year, the competition has funded singers from around the world and featured many winners during the Festival's summer seasons since 2012.

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