Shepherd School student wins national voice competition

Shepherd School student wins national voice competition

BY JESSICA STARK
Rice News Staff

Shepherd School of Music graduate student Jennifer Johnson was one of only five winners of the Metropolitan Opera’s 2008 National Council Auditions Grand Finals Concert. More than 1,500 singers auditioned for a spot at the Feb. 24 finals.

JENNIFER JOHNSON

In addition to the prestige, Johnson won a cash prize of $15,000. Given the reach of the auditions, the number of applicants and the long tradition associated with them, these auditions are considered the most prestigious in North America for singers seeking to launch an operatic career.

“We are all so proud of Jennifer,” said Richard Bado, professor and director of opera studies. “She is a now among an elite group that includes some of the top singers in the world. Already there is a well-deserved buzz going on about her within the industry.”

Johnson studies under Kathleen Kaun, professor of voice at the Shepherd School.

“Our team at Rice, and I as her studio teacher, have all enjoyed watching Jennifer grow and develop into an artist worthy of recognition by the Metropolitan Opera,” Kaun said. “The Met is wonderful in their support of young artists, and I know they will continue to keep a keen eye on her.”

Johnson is a mezzo-soprano and holds an Elva Kalb Dumas Prize in Music for outstanding achievement as a singer at the Shepherd School. For the 2006 and 2007 seasons, she performed with the Opera Theatre of St. Louis.

“Jennifer is a very grounded young lady who has a very unique and beautiful voice,” Kaun said. “Her work ethic is that of a professional, and her fun-loving spirit and devotion to music make her a perfect candidate for a long life in the art of classical singing.” 

The Grand Finals Concert was hosted by Patricia Racette, a leading soprano with the Met and a former auditions participant. The concert also featured a special performance by 1992 National Council Grand Finals winner and Met mezzo-soprano Michelle DeYoung.

Past winners of the Met Auditions include many of today’s leading operatic artists such as Renée Fleming, Hei-Kyung Hong, Deborah Voigt, Susan Graham, Dolora Zajick, Stephanie Blythe, Nathan Gunn, Ben Heppner, Thomas Hampson and Samuel Ramey. During a typical opera season, over one hundred alumni of the Auditions sing in Met performances.