April 3, 2019

The 2019 first-place winner of last Thursday’s Manhattan School of Music’s prestigious Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition is soprano Hyeree Shin, a Professional Studies Certificate candidate at the School.

Ms. Shin received $20,000 in prize money to be used towards her professional development.

Second place for the annual award, given to outstanding opera/voice talent at Manhattan School of Music (MSM), was presented to soprano Kelly Singer, a second year graduate student at MSM. Third place was awarded to soprano Hannah Friesen, who is also in her second year of graduate studies at the School.

Each year, the Competition showcases six – eight finalists: MSM voice students who exhibit outstanding talent and strong potential for careers in opera. This year’s finals and award ceremony took place on Thursday, March 28, 4pm, in MSM’s Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Performance Space.

The distinguished judges for this year’s Competition were mezzo-soprano Denyce Graves (Metropolitan Opera, San Francisco Opera, Lyric Opera of Chicago); Peter Russell, General Director of Vocal Arts DC; and Diane Zola, Assistant General Manager at the Metropolitan Opera.

Thursday’s finalists were selected through a preliminary audition; all participants in the audition were nominated by their teachers at MSM. The Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades Vocal Competition is made possible by generous support from the late Alan M. and Joan Taub Ades, longtime friends and benefactors of the School. Mrs. Taub Ades is a member of the Manhattan School of Music Board of Trustees.