The Atlanta Opera has proudly declared Dina Pruzhansky and Hai-Ting Chinn as the recipients of the prestigious 96-Hour Opera Festival competition.

Their triumphant work, titled “Rose, Tree (Rosenbaum and Li),” is a compelling opera scene set in the year 1967. This piece thoughtfully examines the erosion of cultural divides between a Jewish Holocaust survivor and a Chinese-American woman born in the U.S., as they navigate their support for their children’s interracial romantic relationship.

Pruzhansky and Chinn were awarded the esteemed $10,000 Antinori Foundation Grand Prize. Following their success, The Atlanta Opera has commissioned them to develop a complete chamber opera based on their award-winning conceptual prototype.

Each of the remaining finalists received a $1,000 honorarium in recognition of their efforts.

The selection process involved evaluating five newly crafted 10-minute opera scenes, each prepared over a span of four days by collaborative teams of composers and librettists. Additionally, this year’s festival showcased the debut of the 2023 competition’s winning opera, “Steele Roots.”

The distinguished panel of judges for this year’s event comprised Ricky Ian Gordon, Tazewell Thompson, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Tinashe Kajese-Bolden, and Tomer Zvulun.

The 96-Hour Opera Festival, known for its intense creative timeline, challenges participants to craft innovative and impactful opera scenes in a condensed period, fostering collaboration and artistic ingenuity. The Atlanta Opera’s initiative highlights its commitment to nurturing new talent and expanding the boundaries of contemporary opera.

Pruzhansky and Chinn’s winning scene, “Rose, Tree (Rosenbaum and Li),” stood out for its poignant storytelling and emotional depth, capturing the jury’s attention with its nuanced portrayal of cultural convergence and familial bonds. Their forthcoming chamber opera is anticipated to further explore these themes, promising a rich addition to The Atlanta Opera’s repertoire.

The festival’s structure, which emphasizes rapid development and performance, provides a unique platform for emerging artists to showcase their skills. The $1,000 honorariums awarded to other finalists underscore the opera’s dedication to supporting all participants, recognizing their contributions to the vibrant art form.

This year’s premiere of “Steele Roots,” the 2023 winner, served as a testament to the festival’s ongoing legacy of bringing fresh operatic works to the stage. The Atlanta Opera continues to solidify its reputation as a hub for innovative operatic creations, with the 96-Hour Opera Festival standing as a cornerstone of its mission to advance the art of opera.