Metropolitan Opera Auditions will be held at ISU Stephens Center Nov. 1

The Metropolitan Opera Auditions will be held at Idaho State University on Nov. 1 at 10 a.m. in the Jensen Grand Concert Hall.

“This event is really exciting,” said Diana Livingston Friedley, audition director and music professor at ISU. “People can come see great young artists perform. It’s also a great way for our artists to jumpstart their careers.”

The judges for the auditions this year are baritone Timothy Noble, distinguished professor of voice at Indiana University-Bloomington, tenor Carroll Freeman, distinguished professor in opera at Georgia State University and Bruce Donnell, MET stage director.

“There is opportunity for real competition, right here in our college,” Friedley said.

The winner of the auditions will advance to the regional auditions in Seattle in January. The winner of regionals will advance to the grand finals in New York. Ten finalists are then chosen to perform at the MET Opera in New York.

There will also be a public master class with Noble on Nov. 2 at 10 a.m. in the Marshall Rotunda. Noble will be working with ISU voice majors.

Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for faculty/staff, $4 for pre-college students, and free for ISU students with Bengal ID card.