Luther's Hett, Holst, audition for the Metropolitan Opera
Date 2/10/2000 12:00 AM | Topic: News Kristin Hett ('00) and Kelly Holst ('00) auditioned for the Metropolitan Opera at the Forty-Seventh Annual Upper Midwest Regional Auditions, held on January 29 at the Ordway Center for Performing Arts in St. Paul, Minnesota.
Holst was one of three who received an $800 Incentive Award. Hett received a $300 award. Hett sang "The Willow Song" from the opera "The Ballad of Baby Doe" by Moore, and Bester Jungling, from the opera Der Schauspiel-direktor, by Mozart. Holst sang Les oiseauz dans la charmille from the opera Les Contes D'Hoffman by Offenbach, and also performed "The Willow Song."
Hett said that competing against graduate students was intimidating, because many of the older students had auditioned before. "A voice doesn't develop quickly, especially for undergraduate women," Hett said. "Graduate students usually have more developed voices. It's something that takes time."
Hett said that the unlikely occurrence of two students from the same school at the regional auditions was a reflection of the Luther music faculty's dedication. "It says a lot about the faculty and in particular about our voice teachers, who are excellent. [Luther] is an excellent environment to learn in and grow in."
Kelly Holst was unavailable for comment on this story.
Melissa Malde, professor of music at Luther and Hett's voice teacher, attended the audition. Malde said that it was unusual for undergraduates to participate in the auditions. "Most of the people competing at the regional level were graduate students," Malde said. Malde was impressed with the performances. "We heard some really good interpretations; some good singing," Malde said.
David Judisch, professor of music, head of the vocal department, and Holst's voice instructor, said that the presence of two Luther students at the regional level was uncommon. "That is not very usual. It's highly unlikely that any college or university would have more than one [student]." Because we've had some students advance to being in the top fifteen singers, that says quite a bit about the quality of our singers. It speaks well of all of the singers that choose to come to Luther."
Hett and Holst advanced to the regional auditions after being two of three winners in the Iowa district competition.
The purpose of the regional auditions is to discover young operatic talent, and encourage them in their musical careers. Winning culminates at an audition on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera, where five singers are named as National Grand Winners, each receiving a $15,000 award. Luther alum Eric Cutler was a National Grand Winner in 1998.
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Sara Stromseth
Chips Staff Writer
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