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.
The Middle Atlantic Region is located in Washington, DC and comprises the Capital, Maryland and Philadelphia Districts. The Region's Officers as well as the Chairs of the Districts are a community-based group of volunteers interested in promoting young operatic artists within the Region, with a focus on encouraging inclusivity and diversity. Funds are raised by the volunteers and partner community entities for the sole purpose of directly benefitting singers participating in the Met Laffont Competition.
The Met Laffont Competition of the Middle Atlantic Region will take place on Sunday, February 8th, 2026 at 2:00pm at the Dekelbaum Concert Hall, The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center, University of Maryland, 8270 Alumni Dr. College Park, MD 20742
Competition participants register for one of the three Middle Atlantic district auditions after advancing from the Met Laffont Competition qualifying round. Winners of the Capital, Maryland and Philadelphia districts advance to the Middle Atlantic Region competition. In turn, winners of the Region competition advance to NYC to participate in the National Semi-Finals, held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera.
