Opera Stars Coming to Grand Forks

Three of operas greats will visit Grand Forks this October to present public master classes and to judge the North Dakota-Manitoba District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Dean Willamson, Seattle Opera, Roger Malouf, Metropolitan Opera, Laurie Rogers, Opera Sarasota, will all be in residence in Grand Forks October 19th and 20th. 

On Saturday October 20th, these internationally renowned conductors and coaches will serve as judges to select winners at the 55th Annual North Dakota-Manitoba District Auditions of the Met Opera National Council competition. The competition features aspiring opera singers between the ages of 20 and 30 come from our region and across the country. Current applicants come from North and South Dakota, Minnesota and Manitoba and include returning winners Jessica Kos-Whicher and Elsa Swanson. The Auditions Concert begins at 11 o’clock at Hughes Fine Arts Center on the UND Campus and is free and open to the public.  Mr. Malouf will be presenting a public master class featuring local singers on Friday, October 19th at the Hughes Fine Arts Center, time to be announced.   Mr. Willamson will also be presenting a public master class featuring singers from the district auditions on Saturday, October 20 at the Hughes Fine Arts Center, at approximately 3 o’clock following the award ceremony. Both master classes are free and open to the public.