Nineteen emerging vocalists have advanced to the semi-final stage of the 2024 Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition, overseen by the Metropolitan Opera. These contenders, aged 23 to 30, originate from diverse backgrounds including the United States, Armenia, Australia, China, and Georgia. Selected from a substantial applicant pool of over 1,500 individuals, they navigated through district and regional evaluations to earn their positions.

Each semi-finalist will be awarded a $5,000 cash prize, a twofold increase from the previous competition edition. Additionally, those who proceed to the finals will participate in a week-long training program led by acclaimed musical and dramatic mentors from the Met.

The ultimate victors of the competition will not only claim a $20,000 prize but also gain invaluable exposure to bolster their burgeoning careers. Meanwhile, all other finalists will be granted a $10,000 cash award.

The distinguished vocalists selected for advancement are:

Georgiana Adams, soprano
Nathan Bowles, tenor
Michael Butler, tenor
Katherine DeYoung, mezzo-soprano
Ruby Dibble, mezzo-soprano
Daniel Espinal, tenor
Tessa Fackelmann, mezzo-soprano
Lydia Grindatto, soprano
Navasard Hakobyan, baritone
Bethany Jelinek, soprano
Ani Kushyan, mezzo-soprano
Qirong Liang, mezzo-soprano
Tessa McQueen, soprano
Gemma Nha, soprano
Meridian Prall, mezzo-soprano
Emily Richter, soprano
Demetrious Sampson, tenor
Eric Taylor, tenor
Catherine Thornsley, soprano
Notable past participants in this prestigious competition include luminaries such as Renée Fleming, Denyce Graves, Eric Owens, Stephanie Blythe, Hei-Kyung Hong, Sondra Radvanovsky, Lawrence Brownlee, Michael Fabiano, Latonia Moore, Lisette Oropesa, Jamie Barton, Anthony Roth Costanzo, Ryan Speedo Green, and Nadine Sierra.