The Dallas Opera Announces Semifinalists for Opera Guild Vocal Competition, Today

DALLAS, FEBRUARY 2, 2016 -Twenty of the finest young opera singers in the United States will be competing in the 28th Annual Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition presented, jointly, by The Dallas Opera and The Dallas Opera Guild.

These talented artists will compete April 29 & 30, 2016 for thousands of dollars in prize money and coveted honors including the "People's Choice Award" selected by audience ballot.

The evolution of the recently expanded Dallas Opera Guild Vocal Competition ("Still Bigger Than Texas") continues in 2016, as the Finals Round will now be incorporated-for the very first time-into the company's glamorous Spring Gala!

Patrons will have the option of attending the free Semi-Finals Round on April 29th, the complete Gala evening on April 30th, the Finals Round and Awards Ceremony alone on April 30th, or the Finals Round, Awards Ceremony and the post-performance party!

Tickets range from free (for the April 29th Semi-Finals) to $5 for the Finals Round and Awards Ceremony (available online at dallasopera.org/vocal), to $500 for the entire gala evening, including a seated, gourmet, pre-competition dinner at 5:30 p.m., the vocal competition Finals Round at 7:30 p.m., and the festive post-competition celebration on stage in the Winspear Opera House.

For more information on the 2016 Spring Gala, visit dallasopera.org/galaor contact Special Events Manager Tracy Mott at tracy.mott@dallasopera.org.

With a renewed focus on encouraging the next generation of opera artists and audiences, proceeds from this stellar evening will go to support the many education programs of The Dallas Opera.

Two great Dallas Opera traditions will be united after more than a quarter of a century, to create one truly remarkable evening of music, competition and celebration! It is certain to be an affair-and a weekend-you won't want to miss!

"It will be difficult to top the gathering of exceptional young talent that will command center stage in the Guild's 28th annual vocal competition," explains The Dallas Opera's Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO, Keith Cerny. "Many of them, graduates of the world's most prestigious opera and young artist programs, conservatories and academies; and all of them showing tremendous promise.

"I am also extremely pleased that, with the energetic leadership of Dr. Brian Zeger from Juilliard, we have been able to assemble such a distinguished panel of industry leaders and decision makers to judge this exciting event, making it a unique showcase for artists ready to take their careers to a higher level."

This year, the twenty semi-finalists were selected from a group of 336 applicants from 39 states (residents of the U.S. territories are eligible to apply for the prestigious competition, as well) by a panel of preliminary judges that included Dr. Brian Zeger, Dallas Opera Artistic Administrator Ian Derrer, and Assistant Artistic Administrator and Special Projects David Lomeli.

These gifted young singers will compete throughout the weekend of April 29-30, 2016, beginning with the Semi-Finals Round at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, April 29th (General Admission is free, Winspear Opera House parking is $5) in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House at the AT&T Performing Arts Center.

Finalists will be chosen to return the following evening, Saturday, April 30th at 7:30 p.m., to perform with the full Dallas Opera Orchestra, conducted by internationally acclaimed Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director Emmanuel Villaume.

"These competitors are from the Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Development Program, the San Francisco Opera Merola Program, and young artist programs in Los Angeles, Chicago, Santa Fe, Houston, and St. Louis-to name a few!" notes Dallas Opera Guild 2016 Vocal Competition Chair Ketty Fitzgerald.

"The incredible success of last year's vocal competition still warms our hearts; the glowing comments, the generous support, and the sincere congratulations. All of this is reflected in the extraordinary caliber of applicants who applied to take part in 2016-the best of the best!"

"I am very proud to collaborate with our Guild on the expanded competition," adds Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO Keith Cerny. "This is an outstanding opportunity for the entire community to experience opera's 'next wave' and to show their enthusiasm and support for the hopes and dreams of these deserving young artists."

THE 2016 SEMI-FINALISTS

FOR THE DALLAS OPERA GUILD VOCAL COMPETITION

Elizabeth Baldwin, soprano, 34, Merola, Ravinia, Virginia Opera, Tanglewood

Helena Brown, mezzo-soprano, age 27, young artist at Des Moines, Chautauqua

Nicholas Brownlee, bass-baritone, 26, winner, Met Opera Nat. Council Auditions

Jessica Rose Cambio, soprano, 33, Richard Tucker, George London, Gerda Lissner

Brandon Cedel, bass-baritone, age 28, Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions

Martin Clark, Jr., tenor, age 23, Dallas Opera Education and Outreach programs

César Delgado, tenor, age 29, Plácido Domingo's NY Master Class, Mannes

Sol Jin, baritone, 29, winner, Licia Albanese, Gerda Lissner, Merola Program

Adam Lau, bass, age 31, winner of George London Competition, Merola Opera Program

Stephanie Lauricella, mezzo-soprano, 31, young artist programs at Santa Fe, Pittsburgh

D'Ana Lombard, soprano, 28, Domingo-Colburn-Stein Program, HGO Studio

Alexandra Loutsion, soprano, age 32, Arizona Opera, Wolf Trap, Central City,

Daniel Miroslaw, bass, age 29, Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts at The Juilliard School

Emmett O'Hanlon, baritone, age 25, Marcus Institute for Vocal Arts at Juilliard

Amy Owens, soprano, age 28, Sullivan Award winner, young artist at Wolf Trap, Utah

Karolina N. Pilou, mezzo-soprano, 32, NY Lyric Opera Comp., Gerda Lissner

Carolyn Sproule, mezzo-soprano, age 27, Houston Grand Opera, Met Opera

Sarah Tucker, soprano, 27, semifinalist, Met Opera Nat. Council Auditions, Arizona

Virginie Verrez, mezzo-soprano, 26, winner, Met Opera Nat. Council Auditions

Kang Wang, tenor, age 27, Metropolitan Opera Lindemann Young Artist Program

There is no admission charge for attending the Semi-Finals Round of the 28th annual competition (although donations are definitely welcome), and admission to the Finals Round is a nominal $5 per person.

Lexus Red Parking is available for just $5 at both the Semi-Finals Round, from 11:00 AM until 4:30 p.m. on Friday, April 29th and the Finals Round of the competition the following evening, Saturday, April 30th at 7:30 p.m.

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