ABOUT THE LAFFONT COMPETITION
The Mission of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competitionis:
To discover exceptional young talent and provide a venue for young opera singers across North America at all levels of development, to be heard by representatives of the Metropolitan Opera and to assist those with the greatest potential for operatic careers.
To discover exceptional young talent and provide a venue for young opera singers across North America at all levels of development, to be heard by representatives of the Metropolitan Opera and to assist those with the greatest potential for operatic careers.
The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition is a program designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers. The auditions are held annually in 11 Regions of the United States, Canada, Mexico and Puerto. There are 36 Districts within these Regions, each providing an opportunity for talented singers to enter the Auditions Program at the local level. The Auditions are administered by National Council members and volunteers in each region.
Winners of the District auditions advance to their Region Finals and those finalists move on to the National Semi-Finals, a competition held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Approximately ten of the Semi-Finalists are selected as National Finalists and compete the following week in a public concert, the Grand Finals Concert, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The jury awards approximately five Grand Winner awards of $20,000 each. The concert is broadcast nationwide on the Metropolitan Opera Radio Network. The remaining National Finalists receive $10,000 each, and those singers who were National Semi-Finalists but did not advance to the National Finals will be given $2,500 to further their studies.
Many of the world’s foremost singers, among them Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Ben Heppner, Jessye Norman, Frederica von Stade, Teresa Stratas and Shirley Verrett have received awards from the National Council. Annually, approximately 100 former auditioners appear in Metropolitan Opera productions. Click here for a full list.
Winners of the District auditions advance to their Region Finals and those finalists move on to the National Semi-Finals, a competition held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Approximately ten of the Semi-Finalists are selected as National Finalists and compete the following week in a public concert, the Grand Finals Concert, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The jury awards approximately five Grand Winner awards of $20,000 each. The concert is broadcast nationwide on the Metropolitan Opera Radio Network. The remaining National Finalists receive $10,000 each, and those singers who were National Semi-Finalists but did not advance to the National Finals will be given $2,500 to further their studies.
Many of the world’s foremost singers, among them Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Ben Heppner, Jessye Norman, Frederica von Stade, Teresa Stratas and Shirley Verrett have received awards from the National Council. Annually, approximately 100 former auditioners appear in Metropolitan Opera productions. Click here for a full list.
CONNECTICUT DISTRICT
How It Works
The Connecticut District is one of 36 districts across the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. We are part of the New England Region which is one of 11 Regions across the country.
There are 4 levels of competition: District Auditions, Regional Auditions, National Semi-Finals, and National Grand Finals.
Finalists from the CT District Auditions move on to the New England Regional Auditions which are held in Boston. Winners at the NE Regionals advance to the National Semi-Finals, which will be held at the Met on Monday, April 17, 2023. Finalists from that group advance to the National Grand Finals Concert at the Met on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
There are 4 levels of competition: District Auditions, Regional Auditions, National Semi-Finals, and National Grand Finals.
Finalists from the CT District Auditions move on to the New England Regional Auditions which are held in Boston. Winners at the NE Regionals advance to the National Semi-Finals, which will be held at the Met on Monday, April 17, 2023. Finalists from that group advance to the National Grand Finals Concert at the Met on Sunday, April 23, 2023.
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