Annual vocal competition for young opera singers held by the Middle-Atlantic Region of the Met Laffont Competition. Participants are the winners in the auditions of the Region’s three districts, Capital, Maryland and Philadelphia. The competition will take place on Sunday, February 8th, 2026, at 2:00 pm in the Dekelboum Concert Hall, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, U. of Maryland. Singers will be judged by Gregory Lamar, Susan Graham and Melissa Wegner and will receive feedback from the judges at the conclusion of the event. Winners will advance to New York City to participate in the National Semi-Finals of the Laffont Competition, held on the stage of the Metropolitan. The Middle-Atlantic competition event is open to the public and tickets will be available through The Clarice Center for the Performing Arts Box Office.
Singers advancing to this Regional Competition must have completed the Met Laffont Competition application and qualifying process; registered to audition at one of the three districts comprising the Region; and be judged a winner at the District level.
Applicants must offer four operatic arias in the original language and key at the District and Region levels. Oratorio, musical theater, concert arias and zarzuela are not permitted, but operetta arias are allowed. Selections should demonstrate contrasting musical styles and at least two languages.
2:00 - 4:40pm
Dekelboum Concert Hall, The Clarice Center for the Performing Arts, University of Maryland Web Address: https://theclarice.umd.edu/
