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.
Come sing with us on Saturday November 22nd 2025 at CMU's Kresge Theatre in Pittsburgh at The College of Fine Arts at Carnegie Mellon University, 4919 Frew St. Pittsburgh, PA 15213
Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Directors and Committee
Marianne Cornetti, Director
Virginia and John Dipucci
Mark Abramowitz
Arthur J. Kerr, Jr.
Michael and Kumiko Lancet
Kathleen and David Elias
Lydia Contis
Vivian and Rocco Didomenico
Corbie and Elgin Eissler
Dr. Eugene Myers
Maria Aikins
Janice Rosenberg
Mickey Knaub
Barbara Norris
Many thanks and gratitude to Carnegie Mellon University, School of Fine Arts and Kresge Hall.
Pittsburgh District
The Pittsburgh District of the Great Lakes Region has consistently awarded its singers with significant prize money. The Pittsburgh District holds its auditions at Carnegie Mellon University, College of Fine Arts, 4919 Frew St. Pittsburgh PA 15232. This year, 30 singers are participating.
Pittsburgh District Audition singers judged best qualified will advance to the Great Lakes Region at The Andrew Carnegie Free Library and Music Hall, 300 Beechwood Ave. Carnegie PA 15106. A field of winners from Buffalo/Toronto and Michigan Districts will compete. At each audition level, singers receive construction evaluation and awards. Winners of the Region Auditions compete in the National Semi-finals in New York. National finalists are selected to appear in the Grand Finals Concert on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra
The top rated winners will each receive an award of $20,000.
Singers that have advanced to the District Round will receive a notification regarding the opening of registration. You will be prompted to log in to your Dashboard, select a District, and pay the $30 application fee to reserve your spot. Districts are limited to 30 singers and will operate on a first come, first served basis.
