Geonho Lee has emerged as the winner of the 2025 Houston Grand Opera’s Concert of Arias.

The South Korean baritone, currently studying at the University of Music and Theatre Munich, claimed the top honor during the final event of the 37th Annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers on January 17, 2025. Lee walked away with the $25,000 grand prize and was also awarded the Audience Choice Award, which comes with an additional $5,000.

Second place went to Georgian tenor Luka Tsevelidze, a student at the Tbilisi State Conservatoire. Tsevelidze earned a $15,000 prize for his performance.

Third place was awarded to U.S. soprano Lauren Carroll, a Young Artist with Palm Beach Opera and a former Apprentice Artist with Des Moines Metro Opera. She received $10,000.

The Ana María Martínez Encouragement Award, a $2,000 prize, was given to Romanian soprano Daria Lupu. Lupu has performed at the Bucharest National Opera, Romanian Athenaeum, and Radio Hall, and she was a finalist in the 2024 Sumi Jo International Singing Competition and represented Romania at the 2023 Voix Nouvelles Semifinal in Paris.

“Tonight’s competition showcased incredible talent, excellence, and passion,” said Khori Dastoor, General Director and CEO of the Houston Grand Opera, and one of the jurors. “The opportunity to hear these finalists perform their arias with the magnificent HGO Orchestra, under the baton of Maestro Gaffigan, made the evening truly unforgettable. My heart is full of beauty, inspiration, and gratitude for the next generation of artists who will shape the future of our art form.”