Elgin Opera to hold competition
Elgin Opera will have its second annual vocal competition for voice students ages 12 to 26.
Three age divisions of students -- 12 and under, 13 to 18, and 19 to 26 -- will compete for cash prizes ranging from $100 to $500. The deadline for the Elgin Opera Vocal Competition registration is April 7.
The competitions will be held in April at various locations in Elgin, culminating with a finals dinner event April 25 at Elgin Community College's Fox Valley University and Business Center, 1700 Spartan Drive in Elgin.
Winners and finalists will also be invited to join the Elgin Opera Training Ensemble. The first round of competition, which is not open to the public, will be held April 12 at an Elgin-area church.
The second round (open to the public) will be held April 20 at the new Villa Verone (replacing Magdalena) restaurant at 13 Douglas Ave. in downtown Elgin. The final round will be a festive dinner-concert and benefit held at Fox Valley University and Business Center at ECC.
Cost for dinner is $50 per person, half of which is tax-deductible. Participating finalists are required to wear gowns or tuxedoes. Deadline for reservation is April 21.
Elgin Opera Training Ensemble is made up of students, capable amateurs and emerging professionals that perform at functions throughout the Fox Valley. Last summer, members performed at the FoxFireFest in Elgin, Del Webb's Sun City in Huntley and the Magdalena Festival in Elgin. Member of the EOTE also make up the Elgin Opera Chorus, which recently performed Donizetti's "Elixir of Love" at the Hemmens Cultural Center in Elgin and Del Webb in Huntley.
Last year's winners and finalists were:
• Young Artist Division: Laura Doherty, Roselle, first place; Sheryl Bragg, Batavia, second place; and Nino Arobelidze, Lake Bluff, third place.
• Teen Artist Division: Danielle Floyd, St. Charles, first place; Victoria Narayan, Elgin, second place; Danielle Floberg, Palatine, third place; Tristan Bell Tetyana, Lake in the Hills, finalist; Christina Bernardoni, Elgin, finalist; and Brittany Tepper, Gilberts, finalist.
• Twinkle Little Star: Erica Roti, South Elgin, first place; Helen Knudsen, Elmhurst, second place; Kathleen Narayan, Elgin, finalist; and Andrea Schumann, Lake Barrington, finalist.
Judges for this year's vocal competition include Francesco Milioto, music director of the Skokie Valley Symphony and principal conductor of the Highland Park Strings; baritone Teppei Kono; sopranos Susan Dennis, Rosemary Schroeder and Tetyana Torzhevska; and Solange Sior, artistic director of Elgin Opera. Participants will not be judged by their own instructors.
For information, call Elgin Opera at (847) 214-8340.