Tenor Daniel Espinal (BM ’22) from Sarasota, Florida, is a winner of the 2024 Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition along with four other competitors. He receives a prize money of $20,000 prize along with the prestige, exposure, and networking opportunities that come with winning this renowned competition that has launched the careers of many of opera’s most well-known stars.
Yulin Wang (MM ’25), tenor and Zhenpeng Zhang (MM ’23, PS ’24), baritone, both students of Cynthia Hoffman at MSM, won Encouragement Awards during the Competition.
Learn more here.
MSM alumni mezzo-soprano Erin Wagner (BM ’19), tenor Samuel White (PS ’18), and baritone Benjamin Dickerson (BM ’17) have been named winners in the 2024 George and Nora London Foundation Competition for young American and Canadian opera singers, one of the opera world’s oldest and most prestigious competitions. They are pictured above along with the other four principal award winners.
The winners were announced after the competition’s final round on February 16 which took place at Gilder Lehrman Hall at The Morgan Library & Museum in New York City, with both an in-person and online audience.
Erin Wagner, from El Paso, Texas sang “Sein wir wieder gut” from Strauss’s Ariadne auf Naxos, and won the George London Award of $12,000 in memory of Mary Palumbo, sponsored by Donald Palumbo.
Samuel White, from Columbia, South Carolina sang “Amfortas! Die Wunde” from Wagner’s Parsifal won the George London Award of $12,000 in memory of Lloyd E. Rigler, sponsored by The Lloyd E. Rigler and Lawrence E. Deutsch Foundation, James D. Rigler, President.
Benjamin Dickerson, from Burlington, Vermont, sang “Nemico della patria” from Giordano’s Andrea Chénier won the George London Award of $12,000 in memory of Lois Kirschenbaum, sponsored by the George and Nora London Foundation for Singers.
Learn more about the competition here.
MSM alumni soprano Jouelle Roberson (PS ’22) who studied at MSM with Cynthia Hoffman, and bass Edwin Jhamaal Davis (MM ’17) who studied with Mark Oswald, are among the eight finalists for the 2024 Houston Grand Opera (HGO) Concert of Arias: the 36th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers. It will be presented live from the Wortham Theater Center in Houston on February 2, 2024, at 7 p.m. CT.
HGO holds the international competition each year to identify the most promising emerging artists in opera, each a potential candidate for the company’s prestigious training program for young artists, the Sarah and Ernest Butler Houston Grand Opera Studio. The eight finalists spend the week leading up to the Concert of Arias learning more about HGO and working with its music staff. At the event, each will perform two arias, competing for prizes including the $10,000 purse for first place.
More information here.
MSM alumnus Scott Altman (MM ’96) has been named Los Angeles Master Chorale President & CEO. Mr. Altman will assume this new role on January 2, 2024 after eight years as President & CEO of the Cincinnati Ballet. He previously served in directorship positions with Arizona Opera, Opera New Jersey, and Ballet West.
Altman’s decorated career of nearly 30 years in nonprofit administration and the performing arts includes 20 years as an international opera singer, including 40 roles.
Bass Baritone Nan Wang (MM ’22, PS ’23) has been named one of six new resident artists of the prestigious institution the Academy of Vocal Arts. Nan Wang is a graduate of Manhattan School of Music and the Central Conservatory of Music in China, and has collaborated with Glimmerglass Festival and the Chautauqua Institute, among others. He studied at MSM with Marlena Malas.
“We are thrilled to welcome these extraordinary artists to the Academy of Vocal Arts. They represent the future of opera and embody the passion, dedication, and artistry that we strive to foster at our institution,” says Scott Guzielek, President and Artistic Director of AVA about the new residents.
Opera Wire reports on the news here.
Read MSM’s profile of Nan Wang published in December 2022 here.
The world premiere of Scott Joplin’s opera Treemonisha, re-imagined with a new prologue and epilogue by composer and MSM faculty member Damien Sneed and librettist Karen Chilton, will be taking place at the Opera Theatre of Saint Louis on May 20. Performances run through June 26. The production is conducted by MSM alumnus George Manahan, and features baritone MSM alumnus Justin Austin as Scott Joplin.
Treemonisha was published in 1911, but Joplin never lived to see a fully realized stage production. This new edition of Treemonisha celebrates the strength, beauty, and wisdom of Black women and brings back to light a forgotten figure of history — Freddie Alexander Joplin.
Learn more and purchase tickets here.
MSM alumnus Joseph Tancredi (BM ’19) will compete among 20 singers from the United States, Canada, and Mexico regions to compete in the semifinal round of the 2023 Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition on April 17 at 10 am ET.
The semifinal competition will take place on the Met stage before a panel of judges who will determine the finalists who will advance to the Grand Finals Concert on Sunday, April 23, at 3 pm ET.
The winners of this prestigious competition will receive a cash prize of $20,000 and career-making exposure.
On Friday, March 24, the PBS public television network is featuring MSM alumna mezzo-soprano J’Nai Bridges (BM ’09) on its award-winning flagship program American Masters in a mini-documentary called J’Nai Bridges Unamplified, directed by Christine Turner.
In the program, the critically acclaimed, Grammy–winning opera singer takes the stage in A Knee on the Neck, a choral tribute to George Floyd. Hosted by Broadway legend Audra McDonald.
Learn about the episode here.
MSM student and mezzo soprano Hannah Jones (MM ’24) is one of several young artists being mentored by Denyce Graves this year as part of her work with the Denyce Graves Foundation. Hannah will appear with Ms.Graves on Good Morning America airing on the ABC network on Thursday, February 21 at approximately 8:20 AM. Hannah studies at MSM with Ashley Putman.
Learn more about the Denyce Graves Foundation here.
MSM alumnus tenor Joseph Tancredi (BM ’19) stepped in just an hour before curtain on February 5 to sing the tenor solo in Opera Philadelphia‘s production of Carmina Burana by Carl Off, replacing the scheduled performer who was ill.
It was Joseph’s debut with both Opera Philadelphia, and performing at the Academia of Music in Philadelphia. It was also his first time performing what is considered a notoriously difficult solo.
“I knew Joe had the notes, I knew that he had a large voice that could fill the Academy of Music and had the right kind of temperament to step in at the last minute,” said Grant Loehnig (MM ’05) — also an MSM alumnus — who is head of the music staff at Opera Philadelphia to the Philadelphia Enquirer.
Joseph is completing his master’s studies at Curtis Institute of Music.
Read the article in the Philadelphia Enquirer here.
Congratulations to MSM alumnus countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo (MM ’08), a MSM Board of Trustee member, for being a clue on a recent episode of the long-running television quiz program Jeopardy!
Learn more about Anthony Roth Costanzo here.
In late October, Dean Graham will present two masterclasses at Brigham Young University and speak about the process of auditioning for graduate school programs in voice.
Dean Graham has also been invited to present with Darren Woods at the plenary session for the National Opera Association Conference in Houston in January 2023.
Conductor and baritone Malcolm J. Merriweather (DMA ’15), an MSM alumnus and faculty member, has been appointed the first-ever director of the newly formed New York Philharmonic Chorus. The ensemble will have its premiere performance during the David Geffen Hall opening galas beginning on October 26 at 7 PM in a concert that will feature some of opera and Broadway’s biggest stars, including Renée Fleming, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bernadette Peters, and Vanessa Williams.
Learn more about the appointment here. Learn more about Malcom here.
Morningside University in Sioux City, Iowa, recently honored MSM vocal arts faculty member Mark Schnaible with the institution’s respected CODA Legacy Award for lifetime achievement in the field of the performing and visual arts.
The internationally renowned bass-baritone and vocal technician has enjoyed a distinguished career in the classical music world for the past 35 years.
The award is given to graduates of Morningside University who have demonstrated academic and performance excellence, unusually high leadership and service on a local, regional, and/or national level.
More about Mark Schnaible here.
On June 27 as part of its celebration of Black Music Month, National Public Radio (NPR) featured MSM alumna and mezzo soprano J’Nai Bridges (BM ’09) on an episode of the acclaimed series Tiny Desk Concert.
J’Nai was accompanied by MSM students Christian McGhee (MM ’23) on drums, Nolan Nwachukwu (BM ’23) on bass, and MSM faculty member Damien Sneed on piano.
Watch the concert here.
New York City’s classical music station WQXR featured MSM vocal arts alumnus baritone Justin Austin (BM ’14, MM ’17) in its on-going website series Around the Boroughs. The article is written by MSM vocal arts alumna, Heather Donovan (MM ’20).
During the 2021-2022 Metropolitan Opera season, Mr. Austin made his house debut as Marcellus in the company premiere of Brett Dean’s Hamlet, while also covering the leading role of Charles Blow in MSM trustee Terence Blanchard’s Fire Shut Up In My Bones.
Read article here.
Jazz Arts faculty member Damien Sneed received a rave review for his conducting and arrangement of the June performance of The Ordering of Moses at Riverside Church. The Harlem Chamber Players presented R. Nathaniel Dett’s 1937 oratorio in honor of the centennial of the Harlem Renaissance, for the Juneteenth weekend.
MSM Alumna Krysty Swann (BM ’08)was the mezzo soprano soloist.
“Sneed’s harmonization gave it a discordant underbelly reflective of struggle — a reminder that it has been only two years since protests for George Floyd swept the globe, and one year since Juneteenth, an annual observation of Emancipation dating to 1866, was consecrated as a federal holiday,” writes NY Times critic Oussama Zahr.
Read the review here.
The program by Justin Austin (BM ’14, MM ’17) presented in the Board of Officers Room at the Armory included three sets of Langston Hughes poems.
“The baritone Justin Austin showed off a mighty lyric voice with dramatic flair at the Park Avenue Armory in Manhattan on Tuesday evening. Austin’s tone is deep and earthy, with a firmly stitched timbre that withstands some high-octane singing. At the Armory, he found operatic climaxes in most songs — his high notes were strong, shattering, indefatigable,” writes Oussama Zahr of The New York Times.
Read the full review here.
Bass-baritone Le Bu (BM ’22), from Yancheng, China is one of six winners named in the Met Opera’s 2022 Laffont Competition Grand Finals held on May 1.
Le Bu, pictured above in a recital in Greenfield Hall at MSM, is one of six winners of the Met Opera 2022 Laffont Competition:
Le Bu, 26, Bass-Baritone Matthew Cairns, 27, Tenor Alexandra Razskazoff, 30, Soprano Julie Roset, 25, Soprano Anne Marie Stanley, 30, Mezzo-Soprano Esther Tonea, 28, Soprano
The winners each receive $20,000 prize money, and the chance to launch a major operatic career while accompanied by the Met Orchestra, conducted by Marco Armiliato.
Learn more about Le Bu here.
MSM alumnus and mezzo-soprano Erin Wagner (BM ’19) is being showcased at Carnegie Hall on April 19 at 7:30 PM as the Naumburg Foundation 2021 Vocal Award Winner.
The concert marks the solo debut of Erin Wagner at Carnegie Hall, and takes place in the Weill Recital Hall with accompaniment by pianist Shawn Chang. Music performed is by Edie Hill, Fauré, Ravel, Errollyn Wallen, Shawn Change, and Mahler.
For tickets visit the Carnegie Hall website here.
Congratulations to MSM faculty and alumni who won 2022 GRAMMY Awards for classical, jazz, and composing/arranging!
The awards were presented on April 3, 2022 in Las Vegas. Winners include MSM alumni Anthony Roth Costanzo (MM ’08) (in photo on left) and J’Nai Bridges (BM ’09) soloists in the Metropolitan Opera’s production of Philip Glass’ Ahknaten which won Best Opera Recording.
View the full list of winners here.
View all MSM faculty and alumni nominated for the 2022 awards here.
Current MSM student Bass-baritone Le Bu (BM ’22) (in photo top row, third from left), from Yan Cheng, China, has been named one of 21 semifinalists in this year’s Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition (previously known as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions).
More than 800 singers have participated in this respected national competition that takes place in rounds of regional competitions before the national semifinals on April 24 at the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
The competition is designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers, and is sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera National Council.
The GRAMMY Awards take place on Sunday, April 1, with more than 30 MSM alumni and faculty members nominated, including MSM trustees Terence Blanchard (HonDMA ’19) and Anthony Roth Costanzo (MM ’08), as well as J’nai Bridges (BM ’09), and faculty member, Miguel Zenón.
Read the full list of MSM community nominees here.
Deutsche Grammophon has announced the signing of an exclusive agreement with Jonathan Tetelman (BM ’11). The recording by the acclaimed 33-year-old Chilean-American tenor will be released internationally in summer of 2022.
“We are delighted to welcome Jonathan to the Yellow Label,” says Dr. Clemens Trautmann, President of Deutsche Grammophon. “Critics have already compared him to the finest tenors of yesterday and today, comparisons justified by his exceptional artistry, vocal qualities and gift for expressive communication. He’s truly a major talent with a brilliant career ahead.”
Jonathan Tetelman recorded the Deutsche Grammophon debut album of Verdi and verismo arias and other lyric works at the Auditorio Alfredo Kraus with the Orquesta Filarmónica de Gran Canaria and its Chief Conductor, Karel Mark Chichon.
Learn more about Jonathan here.
Jorge Parodi is the music director of the Senior Opera Theater at the Manhattan School of Music, who has worked as a conductor at Buenos Aires Lírica (Argentina), The Banff Centre (Canada), Tsaritsynskaya Opera Volgograd (Russia), Encuentros Internacionales de Opera (Mexico), Hofstra University and New York University, among others.
Hailed as having “the most expressive conducting hands since Stokowski’s” (New York Daily News), Parodi has collaborated with such artists as Tito Capobianco, Sherrill Milnes and Rufus Wainwright and has assisted conductors of the caliber of Lorin Maazel and Julius Rudel.
Previously at Opera Tampa, he was conductor for The Barber of Seville, The Marriage of Figaro, Anton Coppola’s Lady Swanwhite and The Pearl Fishers.
Congratulations to J’Nai Bridges who is featured on the cover of the February issue of Opera News!
“I’m at a point where I only want to sing works that really resonate with me vocally, artistically, and spiritually,” she tells the publication.
Read the article here.
MSM Alumnus and Trustee Anthony Roth Costanzo (MM ’08) is this year’s New York Philharmonic artist in residence, and with the NYPhil, he’s hosting a two-week festival in NYC called “Authentic Selves: The Beauty Within” beginning January 27.
The New York Times writes about Anthony: “He’s a musician who, among other things, is also a charismatic impresario, cross-discipline connector and community organizer in NYC.”
“Mezzo Raehann Bryce-Davis puts her heart and soul into her work, and she’s taking the opera world by storm,” writes Jennifer Melick of Opera News in the January 2022 issue of the respected publication.
2021/22 season highlights for Raehann include performances of Der Komponist in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxos at Opera Ballet Vlaanderen, Preziosilla in Verdi’s La Forza del Destino at Théâtre du Capitole, Azucena in three productions of Verdi’s Il Trovatore at The Glimmerglass Festival, LA Opera, and Staatstheater Nürnberg, Gods and Mortals, at The Glimmerglass Festival, singing selections of Wagner’s Lohengrin as Ortrud and Die Walküre as Fricka, as well as her company debuts at La Monnaie de Munt as La Zia Principessa in Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Konzert und Theater St Gallen as Joan of Arc in Tchaikovsky’s Maid of Orleans, and her company debut at Teatro alla Scala as Ulrica in Verdi’s Un Ballo in Maschera.
Raehann Bryce-Davis is a co-founder of the Black Opera Alliance and is an advocate for social justice in opera.
Learn more about Raehann here.
Kirill Gerstein, along with fellow pianist Garrick Ohlsson, will play two-piano show pieces by Ravel, Rachmaninoff, and Thomas Adès on Friday, February 25th at 7:30 pm.
Pablo Sainz-Villegas will perform “The Soul of the Spanish Guitar” a recital that will feature works by Albéniz, Granados, Rodrigo and others on Saturday, April 2nd at 8 pm.
Along with the Brentano String Quartet, Dawn Upshaw will present An exploration of the mythological Dido – music by Purcell, Dowland and others; NY premiere of Melinda Wagner’s Dido Reimagined on Sunday, April 3rd at 3 pm.
MSM alumna Yolanda Wyns is featured on NBC’s national morning television program The Today Show, in a new feature called Live the Life You Love. Yolanda speaks to the hosts about inspiring children to find their voices teaching them to sing at The Harlem School of the Arts where she is Chair of Music.
Watch the broadcast here.
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