Singer of the Year

(L-R) 4th Place winner, Alison Bates; 3rd Place winner, Katherine Calcamuggio; 2nd Place winner, Zach Borichevsky;Singer of the Year, Betsy Uschkrat (photo source: Collier/The Times)

     Annually, Shreveport Opera hosts the Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year Competition, Shreveport's only national singing competition. Contestants travel from all around the country to vie for the title of Singer of the Year. With that title, an opera singer can increase his or her chance of being cast in the top opera houses in the world. Over the past years, the grand prize winners have gone on to secure leading roles in some of the most famous opera houses, including the Metropolitan Opera in New York City and many more!
      According to an article published in the New York Times that reviewed the Metropolitan National Council Auditions, a singer doesn't reach his full vocal range until the ages of 30 and 35. So, often these "young artists", between the ages of 18 and 35, are preparing for their careers in opera by gaining early exposure. Shreveport Opera's contest, like other singing competitions across America, offers these young artists just that, exposure to hiring units for major opera companies in America. Essentially, it's a chance for them to audition for some of the most prestigious opera company directors in America and a chance for them to build their reputations as singers.
     Singers in the competition must have performed at least one major role with a university, summer vocal program, or professional opera company to qualify. The contestants then go through the preliminary section of the contest, which is based on a professionally recorded CD containing three arias submitted by each applicant. From these applicants, 30 are chosen to participate in the semifinals, which requires each singer to sing one aria of his or her choice and one aria per the judge's request. The judges then choose ten finalists who compete in the Finalists Concert.
     Prizes include the Grand Prize, The Mary Jacobs Smith Award of $3000. Second prize is The Charles Maggio Award of $2500. Third Prize is The Robert J. Murray Award of $1,500 and Fourth Prize is The Rae Selber Memorial Fund Award of $500. Also awarded are six Honorable Mention Awards of $250 each and one Opera Guild Audience Choice Award of $250.