Young Patronesses of the Opera/
Florida Grand Opera
Voice Competition

Spring 2009

About the Voice Competition

One of the original purposes for the founding of the Young Patronesses of the Opera was to further the studies of aspiring young singers.

The Competition was founded in 1972 by soprano Irene Patti (Mrs. Irene Patti Swartz Hammond). Since that time, YPO has assisted many young opera singers as they pursue their careers by awarding thousands of dollars in prize monies. This financial assistance may be applied by singers to their undergraduate or graduate education or for other expenses incurred in the pursuit of an operatic vocal career, such as role preparation, continuing vocal study, language study, publicity photos, or other audition expenses.

The competition is open to U.S. residents only. Singers may enter this competition in one of two categories: Junior Young Artist (ages 20-25) or Senior Young Artist (ages 26-30). In past seasons, there have been different age divisions. Applications for the 2009 Competition, including all deadlines and specific repertoire requirements, will be available by mail and downloadable on this site in late fall 2008.

In 1988 the Young Patronesses of the Opera, under its president, Renée Gross, joined forces with the Florida Grand Opera to create a truly prestigious national competition. The competition is advertised, and applications are available online and sent to opera young artist programs and major music schools. Due to the amount of funds available for awards, this has become a sought-after competition.

The Voice Competition Committee, chaired by Lucie Spieler, Renée Fink, and Charlette Seidel, is responsible for creating and reviewing applications and for reviewing recent CD's or audiotapes from which the semi-finalists are selected. The committee is also responsible for selecting highly qualified and recognized judges for the auditions. The award winners are selected through two days of live auditions.

Auditions are held biennially, but scholarships may be awarded to previous winners during non-competition years depending on the progress of the winners in their opera careers and on their financial needs. Funds for the Voice Competition come from endowments, individual donations, and the YPO annual budget. YPO receives major support from the Junior Opera Guild and ongoing grants from Dr. and Mrs. Phillip George and the Marvin A. Fink Memorial, and is grateful for past grants from the Patricia Fuller Harrison Memorial and the Olsen Foundation. At present former Voice Competition winners are performing in major opera houses throughout the world.

Application available Fall 2008

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Previous Winners

2007 Judges

Matthew A. Epstein, Director of Vocal Divisions, CAMI

Sheri Greenawald, Director, San Francisco Opera Center, and Artistic Director, Merola Opera Program

Irene Patti Swartz Hammond, Soprano, and Founder, YPO/FGO Voice Competition

Evelyn Lear, Soprano, Emerging Singers Program, Wagner Society, Washington, DC

Jonathan Pell, Director, Artistic Administration, Dallas Opera

2007 Junior Young Artist Finalists (Age 20 to 25)

Date of Finals: March 31, 2007

Christopher Magiera, baritone	Grand Prize $7,500—Junior Opera Guild Award
Corrine Winters, soprano	First Prize $5,000—Judy George Award
Liam Moran, bass	Second Prize $3,000—Junior Opera Guild Award

2007 Senior Young Artist Finalists (Age 26 to 30)

Date of Finals: March 31, 2007

Takesha Kizart, soprano	Grand Prize $8,000—Junior Opera Guild Award
Christopher Bolduc, baritone	First Prize $6,000—YPO Award
Amanda Grooms, soprano	Second Prize (tie) $4,500—Inés M. Cruz Memorial Award
Aundi Marie Moore, soprano	Second Prize (tie) $4,500—YPO Award
Corey Crider, baritone	Fourth Prize $2,500—Marvin A. Fink Memorial Award
Jose Alvarez, countertenor	Honorable Mention $1,000—Francis Ramo Cusumano Memorial Award
Museop Kim, baritone	Honorable Mention $1,000—YPO Award
David Portillo, tenor	Honorable Mention $1,000—Isabelle and Ricardo Román Award

2005 Junior Young Artist Finalists (Age 20 to 25)

Date of Finals: April 2, 2005

Michael Fabiano (20), tenor	Grand Prize $7,500 donated by the Junior Opera Guild
Aaron Blake (22), tenor	First Prize $5,000—The Judy George Award
David McFerrin (25), baritone	Second Prize $3,000
Jeffrey Kim (25), countertenor	Third Prize $1,000—The Olson Award

2005 Senior Young Artist Finalists (Age 26 to 30)

Date of Finals: April 2, 2005

Karen Slack (29), soprano	Grand Prize $8,000 donated by the Junior Opera Guild
Timothy Kuhn (27), baritone	First Prize $6,000
Derek Taylor (29), tenor	Second Prize $5,000
Rolando Sanz (26), tenor	Third Prize $4,000
Janara Kellerman (29), mezzo-soprano	Fourth Prize $2,500—The Marvin A. Fink Memorial Award
Markus Beam (27), baritone	Fifth Prize $1,500—The Román/YPO Award
Christina Pier (30), soprano	Sixth Prize $1,000—The Elizabeth Fogg Lane Memorial Award

2003 Student Finalists

Nicholas Perna (22), tenor	Grand Prize (tie): Junior Opera Guild/Mr. and Mrs. Richard Newhauser Award; University of Miami/Dr. Donna Blythe  Award (tie)
Angela Shadwick (23), mezzo-soprano	Grand Prize (tie): Dr. and Mrs. Ricardo Roman/Ms. Connie Danluck Award

2003 Junior Young Artist Finalists

Audrey Brutus (24), soprano	Grand Prize: Patricia Fuller Harrison Memorial/Susanne S. Kayyali Award
John Neely Gaston (23), countertenor	First Prize: Voice Competition Committee Award
Kristine Biller (26), soprano	Second Prize: Junior Opera Guild Award
Chad A. Johnson (25), tenor	Third Prize: Francis Ramo Cusumano Memorial/Barbara Copanos Award

2003 Senior Young Artist Finalists

Jason Hardy (30), bass, Georgia	Grand Prize: Judy George Award
Dana Beth Miller (29), soprano	First Prize: Young Patronesses of the Opera Award
Gregorio Gonzalez (29), baritone	Second Prize: Junior Opera Guild Award
Erin Marie Wall (27), soprano	Third Prize: Marvin A. Fink Memorial Award
Elizabeth Caballero (28), soprano	Fourth Prize: Stephen Poulos Memorial Award; University of Miami/Dr. Donna Blythe Award (tie)
Leah Hunt (27), soprano	Fifth Prize: YPO Members Award
Melina Pineda (29), mezzo-soprano	Sixth Prize: Mr. and Mrs. Alvaro Varela Award
David Giuliano (27), baritone	Seventh Prize: Ms. Charlette Seidel/Mr. and Mrs. Jay Spieler Award
Paul Mow (30), tenor	Olsen Encouragement Award

2001 Student Finalists

Audrey Brutus (22), soprano	Grand Prize: Mr. and Mrs. Alvaro Varela, Dr. and Mrs. Thomas Briggle, Mr. and Mrs. Raúl Suárez, Mr. and Mrs. Atlee Wampler Award
Noah Stewart (22), tenor	First Prize, Evelyn Lear Recognition Award: Dr. Mort Hammond, Dr. and Mrs. Alfred Damus, Mr. and Mrs. Jay Spieler
John Neely Gaston (21), countertenor	Second Prize, Memorial to Margie Levitz Award: Members of YPO, Congratulations to Irene Patti Swartz & Dr. Morton Hammond by Dr. and Mrs. Morton Robinson
Sarah Jane McMahon (20), soprano	Third Prize: Memorial for Francis Ramo Cusumano from his daughter, Barbara Copanos
Audrey Babcock (21), mezzo-soprano	Fourth Prize: Memorial for Adolph Vezza from Mario and Valentina Vezza Cytrynbaum
Brocha Strausberg Evans (23), mezzo-soprano	Fifth Prize: Olsen Encouragement Award

2001 Junior Young Artist Finalists

All awards in this division are in memory of Patricia Fuller Harrison (fund administered by Kay Carpenter)

Elizabeth Caballero* (26), soprano	Grand Prize (tie)
Christina Villaverde* (24), soprano	Grand Prize (tie)
Harold Wilson (26), bass	First Prize
John A. Tsotsoros (25), tenor	Second Prize
	*Dr. Donna Blythe/University of Miami Singer Award winner

2001 Senior Young Artist Finalists

Keri Alkema (27), mezzo-soprano	Grand Prize: Judy George Award
Paul A. Mow (28), tenor (Harwood Management)	First Prize: YPO Award
Sarah Miller (28), soprano	Second Prize: Marvin A. Fink Memorial Award
Eric McKeever (30), baritone	Third Prize: Junior Opera Guild Award
Michelle Areyzaga (31), soprano	Fourth Prize: Román/Danluck Award

1999 Student Finalists

LaTonia Moore, soprano, Texas	Grand Prize: Patricia Fuller Harrison Memorial
Monica Yunus, soprano, New York	First Prize: Young Patronesses of the Opera Past Presidents Award
Jeffrey Halili, tenor, New York	Second Prize: Dr. Ricardo and Isabelle Román Award

1999 Junior Young Artist Finalists

Jennifer Anne Cooper, mezzo-soprano, Maryland	Grand Prize: Marvin A. Fink Memorial Award
Harold Jay Wilson, bass-baritone, Indiana	First Prize: Junior Opera Guild Award
Joanna Mongiardo, soprano, New York	Second Prize: YPO Membership and Memorials Award
Dana Beth Miller, soprano, Ohio	Third Prize: Dr. B. Boyce Swartz Award
Scott Ramsay, tenor, Wisconsin	Fourth Prize: Jane Robinson, in Memory of Lottie Alexander, Award

1999 Senior Young Artist Finalists

William Andrew Stuckey, baritone, Illinois	Grand Prize: Judy George Award
Troy Cook, baritone, Kentucky	First Prize: Lady Amy Gallow Memorial Award
Kimberly Graham, soprano	Second Prize (Tie): YPO Award
Kirstin Marie Chavez, mezzo-soprano, Florida	Second Prize (Tie): Barbara Copanos for Francis Cusumano Award
Brandon Jovanovich, tenor, New York	Third Prize: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Crawley Award
Kirk Walker, baritone, Illinois	Fourth Prize: Jean McArthur Davis Memorial Award
Sonia Santiago, mezzo-soprano, Florida	Dr. Donna Blythe Award
Terry Murphy, tenor	Olsen Foundation Award

1997 Student Finalists

Sandra Lopez, soprano, Florida	Grand Prize: Patricia Fuller Harrison Memorial Award
Ross Hauck, tenor, Indiana	First Prize: Young Patronesses of the Opera Past Presidents Award
Mark Tevis, baritone, Maryland	Second Prize: Dr. Ricardo and Isabelle Román/YPO Award
Joanna Mongiardo, soprano, Connecticut	Third Prize: Olsen Foundation Award

1997 Intermediate Young Artist Finalists

Charles Reid, tenor, Maryland (Harwood Management)	Grand Prize: Marvin A. Fink Memorial Award
Jami Rogers, soprano, New York	First Prize: Junior Opera Guild Young Artist Award
Jennifer Hines, mezzo-soprano, New York	Second Prize: YPO Membership/Memorials Award
John Bindell, bass, Texas	Third Prize: Marjorie and Egmont Sonderling Award
Karen Driscoll, soprano, Florida	Fourth Prize: Jane Robinson and Linda Meyers Award
Melody Edwards, soprano, North Carolina	Fourth Prize (Tie)

1997 Senior Young Artist Finalists

Mei Ma, soprano, Florida	Grand Prize: Judy George Award
David Walker, countertenor, Florida	First Prize: Young Patronesses of the Opera Award
John Pierce, tenor, Florida	Second Prize: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Crawley Award
Denise Vidal, soprano, Florida	Third Prize: Jean McArthur Davis Memorial Award
Xiao Ping Dai, baritone, New York	Fourth Prize: Laurens and Arlene Mendelson Award
Randall Jakobsh, bass, Pennsylvania	Honorable Mention Award
Keith Workowski, tenor, Florida	Encouragement Award

1997 Other Awards

Leah Summers, mezzo-soprano, New York

Dr. Donna Blythe/University of Miami Singer Award

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