Performances + Events
Since October, vocalists across the United States and in Mexico and several cities in South America have participated in one of the most important auditions organized in the opera world: the Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition.
“The Laffont Competition remains one of the most prestigious and meaningful gateways for young singers entering the professional opera world,” NEC Voice Department Chair Bradley Williams said. “Beyond the competitive aspect, it offers artists invaluable exposure, rigorous performance experience, and the opportunity to be heard by leaders in the field at a formative moment in their development.”
Past winners of the competition — formerly the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions — include such internationally acclaimed artists as tenor Lawrence Brownlee, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, soprano Renée Fleming, mezzo-soprano Susan Graham, and recent NEC alumnus Anthony León ’21 MM. Numerous NEC alumni in recent years have reached the semifinals and finals.
On January 25, the competition’s New England Regional Finals will take place in NEC’s Jordan Hall. Four of the singers who’ll perform in that round are current NEC students — soprano Rena Maduro ’26 MM, countertenor Ricky Lee Owens ’26 GD, tenor Suowei Wu ’25 MM, ’27 GD, and soprano and NEC Concert Artist Dani Jingdan Zhang ’26 AD all advanced from the Boston District Round.
“We are proud of Rena Maduro, Dani Jingdan Zhang, Ricky Lee Owens, and Suowei Wu for their accomplishments, and we look forward to hearing them represent NEC on the Jordan Hall stage on January 25,” Williams said. “In addition, tenor and current NEC student Xiaofeng Hou ’26 MM won the San Diego District of the Laffont Competition and will advance to the Western Regional Finals in Los Angeles in February, and soprano and NEC student Isis Bermudez Rivera ’26 MM advanced from the Puerto Rico District and will compete at the Gulf Coast Regional Finals in New Orleans next month. Together, these achievements reflect our singers’ exceptional individual artistry, the depth of preparation and support within NEC’s Vocal Arts programs, and our longstanding commitment to training singers for the highest levels of the profession.”
Soprano and NEC alumna Xijin Chen ’24 MM advanced from the San Diego District and will compete in Los Angeles. And soprano and NEC alumna Shiyu Zhuo ’24 MM advanced from the New York District and the Eastern Region Finals to secure a spot at the National Semifinals, which will be held in March at the Metropolitan Opera.
