March 9, 2010 – MURFREESBORO – The campus of Middle Tennessee State University played host to the country’s most talented young opera vocalists this weekend at the 15th Annual Orpheus Competition presented by the Middle Tennessee Choral Society. Sixty students and young adults took the stage to perform in front of three respected opera and classical vocal judges.
On Sunday, it was Jessica Bold, 26 from Twin Lakes, Michigan who took home the competition’
“One moment I realized that I was the only person still sitting and when they called my name, I was still shocked,” Bold said after accepting her award and a check for $5,000. “There were so many talented vocalists on stage today and I am humbled to have won.”
Dr. Raphael Bundage, Artistic Director for the Orpheus, said “Ms. Dold’s performance was beautiful. She is exactly what this competition is about, offering an opportunity for today’s young classical singers to come onto stage and get the recognition for their talents that they deserve.”
Abigail Levis, 22 from Houston, TX, claimed the top award in the student category Joy and Radford Smith Student Grand Prize performing pieces from Mozart, Gordon and Bach. Levis’ award was accompanied by a check for $2,500.
Christia Starnes from Brentwood, TN performed in the Finals and took home Cynthia Vernardakis Award, and a check for $500.00.
The competition has produced a number of stars in the opera world, including Elizabeth Deshong. The 2001 Orpheus Student winner, will perform the role of High Priestess in the Metropolitan Opera's Ai'da. Other winners are performing in Opera companies all over the world.
Competitors performed in two categories. The Young Artist category features young professional vocalists between the ages of 25 and 30, while the Student category gives the stage to vocal students between the ages of 19 and 24. Each singer performs pieces for the judges they feel most fully express their talents.
“After reviewing more than 140 applicants, we carefully narrowed the field of competitors to just over seventy contestants representing 22 states,” says Kay Garrison, Orpheus Competition organizer. “The talent of these young artists is amazing.”
The panel of judges consisted of DeeAnn Gorham, professor of voice and opera at Texas A&M University at Commerce; Benton Hess, professor of voice and music director for the Eastman opera at the renowned Eastman School of Music in New York; and John Kramar, professor of voice at the University of East Carolina and assistant director at Opera Chatauqua.
