Last modified: Monday, April 7, 2003
IU music student named winner in Metropolitan Opera competition
Soprano Christina Pier, an Indiana University School of Music graduate student from Flagstaff, Ariz., was one of four winners in the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions on Sunday (April 6) in New York City. Pier will receive $15,000.
This is the third consecutive year that IU School of Music students have won the grand prize. Soprano Twyla Robinson won the award last year. In 2001, tenor Lawrence Brownlee and soprano Kristine Winkler earned the honor.
Pier is a student of Distinguished Professor of Voice Virginia Zeani. "Christina has one of the most beautiful voices in America today," Zeani said. "She is a very hard worker."
Pier and fellow IU graduate student Dong Won Shin of Seoul, South Korea, were among the nine finalists who competed in the National Grand Finals Concert. Pier and Shin remained in residence at the Met last week, preparing for the finals with the Met's artistic staff.
During the concert, each finalist performed two arias on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. Four winners were chosen and awarded $15,000 each. The remaining finalists received $5,000 each.
Pier's award-winning performance, along with the rest of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, will be broadcast by WFIU (103.7 FM in Bloomington, 95.1 FM in Terre Haute, 100.7 FM in Columbus, 106.1 FM in Kokomo) on April 26 at 1 p.m. CDT.
The purpose of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions is to discover new talent for the Metropolitan Opera and to encourage young singers in preparation for their careers. Several past winners have joined the Metropolitan Opera's roster.
