Welcome! Thank you for visiting the Georgia District Laffont Competition page.
We are delighted that you have chosen the Georgia District for the first round of this prestigious national competition. It is our pleasure to welcome you, and we wish you every success as you prepare for this exciting opportunity.
We look forward to meeting you, hearing you sing, and sharing in what we hope will be a rewarding and memorable experience.
Warmest regards,
Indra Thomas & Jessica Kiger
Georgia District Co-Directors
The Met’s Laffont Competition—previously known as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions—is designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers and is sponsored by hundreds of donors and volunteers from across North and South America. Some of today’s greatest singers got their starts in the competition, including Jamie Barton, Stephanie Blythe, Lawrence Brownlee, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Emily D’Angelo, Michael Fabiano, Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Ryan Speedo Green, Lisette Oropesa, Eric Owens, and Nadine Sierra.
Jessica Kiger & Indra Thomas
Georgia District Co-Directors
galaffontcompetition@gmail.com
The Georgia District Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition will be held on Sunday, November 8, 2026, at 1:00 PM at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on the campus of Morehouse College.
Ray Charles Performing Arts Center
900 West End Avenue SW
Atlanta, GA 30310
The Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition is a prestigious annual vocal competition dedicated to discovering, supporting, and advancing the careers of promising young opera singers. For generations, the competition has served as an important platform for emerging artists as they take significant steps toward professional careers in opera.
The rigorous competition spans four tiers: District, Regional, National Semifinals, and the Grand Finals Concert on the main stage of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.
The journey begins at the District level, where singers compete for the opportunity to advance to their respective Regional Competition. Selected Regional winners then advance to the National Semifinals at the Metropolitan Opera. From the semifinalists, a select group of singers is chosen to perform in the Grand Finals Concert on the Metropolitan Opera stage, where the National Winners are selected.
At the Georgia District Competition, up to three singers may be selected as District winners and advance to the Regional level.
Throughout each stage of the competition, participants have the opportunity to perform for distinguished professionals from the opera industry, receive valuable feedback, and gain important exposure. Beyond the awards themselves, the Laffont Competition provides young singers with an invaluable opportunity to develop their artistry, make professional connections, and take meaningful steps toward a career on the operatic stage.
Day of the Audition
The auditions will be held at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center on the campus of Morehouse College. This year’s Georgia District Competition will welcome up to 25 competitors, and we look forward to an exciting day of exceptional singing.
Parking: Parking is available in the lot behind the performance venue, accessible from Joseph E. Lowery Blvd. SW. Additional parking is available in the Morehouse College Parking Garage, located above the Visitor Center at 830 Westview Dr. SW. We ask that all singers arrive at least one hour before their scheduled audition time. Upon arrival, an Opera Guild for Atlanta volunteer will be available in the lobby to assist you with check-in.
Audition Accompanist: The Georgia District is pleased to provide an official audition accompanist, Nyle Matsuoka, at no cost to competitors on the day of the competition.
Please note that while the District covers Mr. Matsuoka’s services for the auditions, rehearsal time is not included. Singers who wish to rehearse with Mr. Matsuoka prior to the competition are welcome to make arrangements with him directly. Any rehearsal fees and scheduling will be the responsibility of the singer. To arrange a rehearsal, please contact Mr. Matsuoka directly at nyle.matsuoka@gmail.com. Competitors are also welcome to bring their own accompanist for their audition.
Warm-Up Rooms: Each singer will have access to a warm-up room for 30-minutes, beginning approximately 45 minutes before the scheduled audition time. At the conclusion of your warm-up period, please proceed promptly to the backstage area so that you are ready and available before your audition.
We encourage you to allow plenty of time and remain flexible throughout the day in case the auditions run slightly ahead or behind.
Audience: The auditions are free and open to the public, so we encourage you to invite your family, friends, teachers, and supporters to attend and enjoy the competition.
Awards & Judges’ Feedback: After the final singer has performed, there will be a brief break while the judges deliberate. Once deliberations are complete, all singers will be invited to reconvene in the auditorium for the announcement of the winners.
Following the awards announcement, each singer will have an opportunity to meet with the judges and receive individual feedback.
We look forward to welcoming you to Morehouse College and wish each of you a wonderful and successful audition!
Please visit the following website for more information on how to apply for Metropolitan Laffont Competition.
Jessica Kiger & Indra Thomas
Georgia District Co-Directors
galaffontcompetition@gmail.com
