Release Date: November 12, 2009
KSU to host the Georgia district auditions of the Metropolitan Opera
For media inquiries: Cheryl Anderson Brown, Director of Public Relations,
770-499-3417 or cbrown@kennesaw.edu
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KENNESAW, Ga.—Kennesaw State University will host the Georgia district auditions for the Metropolitan Opera National Council at 10 a.m. on Nov. 21. The auditions will be held in the Performance Hall of the Dr. Bobbie Bailey & Family Performance Center.
The purpose of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions is to discover exceptional, young opera singers and offer support in the development of their careers. The opera auditions are held annually in 15 regions nationwide. Within these regions are 45 districts, each providing an opportunity for singers to enter the competition at the local level. Auditions are available for singers of all voice types ages 20-30. Monetary prizes and professional opportunities are available.
This will be KSU’s second year hosting the event, thanks to Russell Young, associate professor of opera and musical theatre. Young spoke with Margaret Talmadge, regional chairman of the auditions, once the new Performance Hall in the Bailey Center opened.
“The selection committee felt that perhaps it was time for a change and that we were the venue they were looking for,” says Young. “When we hosted last year, everything went so wonderfully well. They were really impressed and were really happy with the turnout.”
Singers audition in front of professionals in the music business who are readily available to answer any questions and who are in positions to recommend them for work, apprenticeships or advanced study. “Also, contestants meet singers not much older than they are, which gives them the opportunity to see what the competition is like over the world and not just here in Kennesaw. It’s a really good learning experience for them.”
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A member of the 35-unit University System of Georgia, Kennesaw State University is a comprehensive, residential institution with a growing student population of more than 21,000 from 142 countries. The third-largest university in Georgia, Kennesaw State offers more than 65 graduate and undergraduate degrees, including new doctorates in education and business.
The KSU College of the Arts is one of only four Georgia institutions to have achieved full national accreditation for all of its arts programs.