March 26, 2018

The 2018 Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition returns to Manhattan School of Music (MSM) on Thursday, March 29 at 4:00 pm. Fittingly, the competition will be held in the School’s Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Performance Space.

Each year, the Ades Vocal Competition showcases MSM student finalists who exhibit outstanding talent and strong potential for careers in opera. The winner receives up to $40,000 in prize money to be used to support his or her professional development.

The distinguished judges for this year’s Competition are Michael Heaston, Executive Director and Acting Artistic Director of the Lindemann Young Artist Development Program at the Metropolitan Opera; soprano Hei-Kyung Hong, (Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago); and Matthew Horner, Senior Vice President and Director of the vocal division of IMG Artists, New York.

The eight MSM student finalists, listed below, were selected through a preliminary audition; all participants in the audition were nominated by their teachers at MSM.

SeokJong Baek, baritone
Devan Balaguer, mezzo-soprano
Chadol Kim, baritone
Philippe L’Esperance, tenor
José Luis Maldonado, baritone
Shaina Martinez, soprano
Michael St. Peter, tenor
Hongni Wu, mezzo-soprano

Each finalist will begin by performing a selection of his or her choice. The judges will request additional selections from the singers’ repertoire list and may stop a piece at any time in order to go on to the next work or the next singer. Winners will be announced at a reception following the performances.

The Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition is made possible by generous support from Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades, longtime friends and benefactors to the school. Joan Taub Ades is a member of the Manhattan School of Music Board of Trustees.

The event is free and open to the public.