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 Tennessee District 2026-2027 Laffont Competition will be held in Knoxville Tennessee on the University of Tennessee campus in the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music Center Recital Hall on Saturday, January 9, 2027. The hall is located at 1741 Volunteer Boulevard. The event will begin at 10am. The public is cordially invited to attend at no cost. Parking is available in the lot directly adjacent to the Natalie L. Haslam College of Music. Guests should arrive 30 minutes prior to the beginning of the program.
Any questions you may have regarding the event should be directed to Jan Simpson, Co Director of the Tennessee District at jansimpson1047@gmail.com.
