Metropolitan Opera Auditions and Winners Concert Triumph | Pro Musica: San Miguel

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  • On Thursday last week we staged the Metropolitan Opera auditions for the whole of Mexico. 34 Singers from all over the country, including several Mexicans who live in the US, were auditioned by a panel of three distinguished Judges nominated by the Met in the auditorium at the Bellas Artes, during a day when we listened to 68 arias.  Maestro Mario Alberto Hernandez accompanied every singer throughout this long day with his usual dedication, and consummate musicianship.

    An amazing army of 27 volunteers under co-Director of the Met Auditions Mexico, Joan Mitchell, did an incredible job of running a seamlessly efficient operation. Emotions ran high as singers competed for fame and fortune and at the end there was joyous celebration by the successful ones.  Every single participant spent time with all three Judges for invaluable feedback sessions after the auditions, which also helps those who were not winners, because they learn what they can do better and areas where their voice or presentational skills can be improved to enhance their careers..  

    The standard of the singing was extraordinarily, and consistently, high.  The Judges had a difficult time making their decisions.  We had expected them to chooses two or three winners to go forward to the Regional Finals in New Orleans in January, and to make two or three Encouragement Awards to singers whom, although they would not progress further in the competition, were worthy of recognition because of their outstanding singing.  However, because of the incredible range of talent we heard, the Judges made a highly unusual decision to choose FIVE winners and to make FIVE Encouragement Awards.


    The MetOpera Audition Winners

    The Winners each received US$1,500 prize money and those receiving Achievement Awards US$400 each. Because the total prize money fund was fixed in advance, there was a shortfall, which would have meant each winner receiving less than we had allocated.  When this became known an anonymous Pro Musica Patron Member stepped in and donated US$1,500 to top up the Winners Prize pot.  We were still short on the Achievement Awards prize pot and in an unprecedented move, which has never happened in any Met Opera audition anywhere, the Judges themselves personally donated US$1,000 to make up the shortfall.   


    The MetOpera Audition Encouragement Award Winners

    The five winners are Efraín Corralejo, tenor, Juan Carlos Heredia, baritone, Yunuet Laguna, soprano, Gamaliel Reynoso, counter tenor and Denis Vélez, soprano.  They all sang two arias at the Winners concert and there were wildly enthusiastic and continuous standing ovations from an overflowing, sold out house.  The Achievement Award recipients are Alejandro del Ángel, tenor, Vanessa Jara, Damaris Lezama, soprano, Ana Paula Malagón, soprano and Sofía Sánchez, soprano. They each sang a  single aria at the Winners Concert.


    Michael Pearl and Toby Bradley, Deputy Chief of Mission, U.S. Embassy

    We were honoured at the Winners Concert by the presence of Tobin Bradley, Deputy Chief of Mission (ie No.2 two to the Ambassador) of the American Embassy in Mexico City.  He spoke movingly of the historic nature of the occasion bringing together the cultural excellence of two great nations, and presented Official Citations to all ten singers on behalf of the United States Government reciting that they are the first singers in Mexico to represent their nation in the 65 year history of the Met auditions.


    Official Citation from the U.S. Embassy

    All ten singers were paid a professional fee by Pro Musica for singing at this concert. I know you will all join with me in wishing every future success to each of these amazingly talented singers, and in particular that you will be rooting for every one of the prize winners who go to New Orleans for the Regional Finals on January 27, 2019 with the prospect of getting through to the Semi-Finals at the Metropolitan  Opera in New York in March.

    Sincerely,
    Michael Pearl, President, Pro Musica

    Co-Director, Metropolitan National Committee, Mexico District

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