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.
Since November 2000 the Kentucky District auditions have been held in Lexington, Kentucky. Sponsored by OperaLex, these auditions have awarded $5,000 in prize money annually and sent singers on to the Central Regions in Chicago, the National Semi-Finals and the Grand Finals at the Met.
The Kentucky District and OperaLex are volunteer based organizations. All of the funds needed to hold our competition are raised by our district officers and OperaLex. OperaLex is a 501(c)3, so your donation is tax-deductible up to the extent allowed by law.
We are proud to host and produce this competition that helps and encourages young singers as they pursue careers in opera. From Lexington to Lincoln Center!
