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Kansas City's Online Journal of the Performing Arts

Longtime vocal music fans in Kansas City know that one of the most enjoyable days to be spent midwinter is at the Metropolitan Opera District Auditions which are held here each year.  Usually over 30 singers, and sometimes as many as 40, perform a selection of opera arias in front of expert judges to determine a series of winners, three of whom advance to the regional auditions.  This year the regional auditions will be held in St. Louis on February 13.

The Kansas City District is one of several dozen nationwide which eventually result in a finals concert held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City later in the spring, this year on March 7, 2010.  From these national contestants are selected a few who are given contracts to sing at the Metropolitan Opera, or who go on to prominent opera careers elsewhere.

Over the years the Metropolitan Opera audition process has uncovered a number of singers who have gone on to international stardom.  Here in Kansas City such contemporary superstars as Samuel Ramey, Vinson Cole and Joyce DiDonato appeared in the district auditions in their student days.

This year's judges for the Kansas City district are Roger Pines, dramaturg from Lyric Opera of Chicago; Richard Bado, the chorus master of the Houston Grand Opera; and Patricia Wise, a soprano and professor of voice at the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music.

A finer day of singing is not to be had, especially at the price, and you can match wits with the judges to see if your picks are the same ones they choose.

Metropolitan Opera Regional Auditions
Saturday, January 2, 2010 at 10:00 a.m.
White Recital Hall
4949 Cherry, Kansas City, MO
Free admission.

By Don Dagenais

City Classics Music and Dance Columnist; Classical Contributor

A lifelong classical music fan, Don Dagenais is a frequent preview speaker for the Lyric Opera of Kansas City and has taught classical music and opera courses at several Kansas City venues. He has served on the boards of directors of a number of performing arts organizations including the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, the Lyric Opera Guild, UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Opera Volunteers International, the Civic Opera Theater of Kansas City, Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony, Octarium, and the Friends of the Symphony.  He has been the past president of most of these organizations and is current the president of the Friends of the Symphony. 

Dagenais co-authored a history of the Lyric Opera of Kansas City, published on the occasion of its 50th anniversary (2007) and has written books on the histories of both the Lyric Opera Guild and Opera Volunteers International, as well as an introductory book for opera novices (Your Passport to the Opera).  He has received several local and national awards for outstanding volunteer work for the arts, including a lifetime achievement award from The Coterie Theatre in 2000, the Kansas City Musical Club's annual award in 2001, a Partners in Excellence Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2002, a Bravo Award from Opera Volunteers International in 2004 and a community service award from the Daughter of the American Revolution in 2008 honoring him for his community service to the arts.

In addition to his music interests, Don is president of the board of directors for the Metropolitan Ensemble Theater and has served on the boards of The Coterie Theatre and the Heart of America Shakespeare Festival, serving as president of each organization.  He publishes newsletters for seven arts organizations.  When not involved in the performing arts, Don is a senior real estate attorney with Lathrop & Gage LLP in Kansas City, Missouri, where he has practiced law since 1976 after graduating from the Cornell Law School.