NEC Singers among Met Regional Winners

On January 26, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Program awarded New England Conservatory students GyuYeon Shim and Erica Pertrocelli prizes. Held annually, the New England auditions took place in NEC's Jordan Hall.

GyuYeon Shim, a 27-year-old soprano from Seoul, South Korea, won Third Prize and a monetary award of $4,000. She most recently sang the role of Nella in NEC’s production of Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi on December 13 and is anticipated to graduate from NEC in 2017 with a Graduate Diploma. Shim studies with Lorraine Nubar at the Conservatory. She received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the Korea National University of Arts and her Master of Music in Vocal Performance from the Manhattan School of Music.

Erica Petrocelli, a 23-year-old soprano from Providence, Rhode Island, won an Encouragement Award and a monetary prize of $2,000. Petrocelli is cast in the title role of Bystrouska (Vixen) in NEC's upcoming production of Janaceck's The Cunning Little Vixen. She will appear in the Sunday, February 7 and Tuesday, February 9 performances at the Cutler Majestic Theatre. Petrocelli received a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from NEC and is continuing at NEC in the Master of Music program, which she anticipates completing this year as a student of Bradley Williams. She will be performing her graduation recital in Brown Hall on Friday, February 26.

The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Program aims to discover exceptional young opera talent, provide the opportunity for gifted young opera singers at all levels of development to be heard by representatives of the Metropolitan Opera, and to assist those with the greatest potential for operatic careers. This year’s judges were Gayletha Nichols, Executive Director of the National Council Auditions; James Robinson, Artistic Director of the Opera Theatre of St. Louis; and Nicholas Russell, Director of Operations for Boston Lyric Opera.

Find more information on New England Conservatory’s website about the NEC Opera Studies program and upcoming Opera and Vocal performances.

Find photographs and more information about the New England Regional Auditions.