The Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition is Now Online

It's the ultimate "People's Choice." The Dallas Opera and The Dallas Opera Guild, in an unprecedented response to the needs of young artists in these difficult times, will host the 2020 Dallas Opera Guild Biennial Lone Star Vocal Competition online-with the winner decided by popular vote.

Originally scheduled to take place in the Margot and Bill Winspear Opera House in May, this year's virtual competition will enable opera lovers to discover their favorites and cast their votes online, June 1 - 7, 2020.

Ten finalists with Texas connections have been selected by The Dallas Opera's Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director Emmanuel Villaume and Director of Artistic Administration David Lomeli. They are:

Michelle Girardot, Soprano, 26, Moores School of Music / Hochschule für Musik und Theater "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy" Leipzig

Sara Holt, Soprano, 25, SMU / Houston Baptist University

Emily Kern, Soprano, 26, Rice University / University of Houston

Cory McGee, Bass, 24, Rice University / Oberlin Conservatory

Ricardo Ceballos de La Mora, Bass, 28, Indiana University, Jacobs School of Music / SMU /SIVAM

Jazmine Olwalia, Mezzo-Soprano, 26, University of Maryland / University of Houston

Amanda O'Toole, Soprano, 29, UNT / University of Michigan

Isabel Signoret, Mezzo-Soprano, 23, Rice University / University of Michigan

Logan Tanner, Countertenor, 29, Baylor University / Westminster Choir College

Jason Zacher, Bass-Baritone, 27, Moores School of Music / Montclair State University

Videos submitted by the finalists have been posted on The Dallas Opera's website for viewing from now through 11:59 p.m. June 7, 2020. The option to vote is located on the same page.

While anyone is eligible to vote, the competition allows only one vote per person.

The sole winner will be announced on Monday, June 8 on Dallas Opera social media channels, as well as on dallasopera.org.

The winner will receive $1,000 and automatically qualifies for a spot in next year's national vocal competition (the semi-finals round) with a chance to advance to the finals, where they would perform accompanied by The Dallas Opera Orchestra.

The Kern Wildenthal General Director and CEO Ian Derrer observes, "The Dallas Opera Guild has always had a special affection for homegrown talent. It's easy to understand why the membership wished to return to that proud tradition. Today's technology has made it possible for us to keep that dream alive for ten aspiring opera singers, even in the midst of a global pandemic."

Singers, age 18 through 30, who are Texas residents or Texans pursuing vocal studies out-of-state were encouraged to apply by the March deadline.

2020 Competition Chair Dr. Susan Fleming remarked, "The Dallas Opera Guild is extremely proud of the many professional voices in development that we have fostered for more than three decades. We are eager to hear those selected to compete this year and encourage YOU to watch, listen, and cast your vote online during the first week of June."

This year's Honorary Chair is longtime Dallas Opera supporter and Dallas Opera Guild Member Martha Allday, a subscriber and donor since 2005.

Now in her sixth year as a member of The Dallas Opera Board, Martha Allday has given her enthusiastic support to The Dallas Opera Hart Institute for Women Conductors, as well as the annual vocal competition. With her husband, Dr. Robert Allday, Martha served as Guild Co-President during our second season in the Winspear Opera House (2010-2011). Beginning with the 2010 world premiere of Heggie and Scheer's Moby-Dick, the Alldays hosted numerous visiting artists (and, at times, their families) during extended stays in Dallas. Today, Martha Allday describes The Dallas Opera as "another family."

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