Elgin OPERA names finalists for vocal competition

Submitted by Elgin OPERA

The final round of Elgin OPERA’s fifth annual vocal competition was held April 10 and 17 at the Kimball Street Theatre on the lower level of the new Rider Center on the campus of Elgin Academy.

More than 82 singers participated in the competition, and 18 of them made it to the finals.

Congratulations to the winners in the four divisions and to Erica Bland, 16, of Hoffman Estates, who won the Most Promising Artist Award. She won a scholarship for $500 to study voice at Judson University.

In Division I — Twinkle Little Star, 13 years and younger, Madison Kleba of Elburn won first place and Sophia Peterson of Elgin won second place. Alyssa Weir of West Dundee and Rachel Kim of Glenview were finalists.

In Division II — Teen Artist, ages 14 to 18, Erica Bland of Hoffman Estates won first place, Grace Canfield of Naperville won second place and Anastasia Malliaras won third place. Alexis Gill of Anchorage, Ky., was a finalist.

In Division III — Young Artists, ages 19 to 26, Kristin Schwecke of Milwaukee, Wis., won first place. No one won second place, but three third-place awards were distributed to Katherine Werbiansky of Chicago, Sarah Heitman of Barrington and Evan Bravos of St. Charles. Corey Grigg of Chicago was a finalist.

In Division IV — Emerging Artist, ages 27 and older, Katherine Calcamuggio of Elmwood Park won first place, Saira Frank of Waukesha, Wis., won second place and Rosalind Lee of Oak Park and Margaret Wendt of Sycamore tied for third place. Karen Jesse of Prairie View was a finalist.

Winners of each category won cash awards ranging from $100 to $500.

Contestants were judged by Tetyana Torzhevska, Ukrainian Spinto Soprano; Susan Dennis, soprano and vocal instructor at Harper College; Tim Filliman, bass and adjunct voice faculty at Harper College; Myron Myers, bass and coordinator of voice studies at Northern Illinois University; Saira Frank, soprano; Jennifer Kosharsky, mezzo-soprano; Ghibong Kim, baritone and voice faculty member at Judson University; and Solange Sior, soprano and artistic director of Elgin OPERA.

For details, call Elgin OPERA at (847) 695-5014, email office@elginopera.org or visit www.elginopera.org, www.youtube.com/ElginOpera and www.facebook.com/elginopera.