The purpose of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions program, established in 1953, is to provide a venue for young opera singers from
all over the United States and all different levels of experience to be heard by a representative of the Metropolitan Opera to
discover new talent for the Metropolitan Opera, and to search for possible participants in the Lindemann Young Artists Development
Program. This Metropolitan Opera program was designed in 1980 for the purpose of nurturing the most talented young artists through
training and performance opportunities. The program provides financial aid together with closely supervised artistic direction,
led by a team of experienced administrators and prominent artists at the Met.
Applicants must be prepared to sing a minimum of five operatic arias in their original language and key. Selections should
demonstrate contrasting style as well as languages. After each audition program, candidates are given the opportunity to meet
with the judges personally to discuss matters of evaluation and advice, an aspect of these auditions that makes them unique.
The annual auditions start at the District level and contestants may choose to compete in any district regardless of their place
of residence. There is no set number of singers to advance, but typically two to four winners from each district compete in the
Regionals. The regional finals for this area include participants from Kentucky, Indiana and Ohio. Approximately 1,500 singers
participate each year in sixteen regions across the country. The first place regional winners go on to the National Council
Auditions Semi-Finals in New York the following spring. Eight to ten singers are selected as the National Finalists and perform
in the Winners Concert on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.
National Council Staff:
Gayletha Nichols, Executive Director
Melanie Rosa, Assistant Director
Camille LaBarre, National Chairman
Joseph Barnett, President
Frederica von Stade, National Advisor
Tri-State Region Chairman:
Arthur Caspar
Kentucky District Co-Directors:
Henno Lohmeyer
Dr. Clifton Smith
