National Vocal Competition
The ten finalists for the Long Leaf Opera 2008 National Vocal Competition were:
Emily Ezzie, soprano, Maryland; Ted Federle, baritone, Ohio; Daniel Holmes, tenor, Virginia; Lori Lind, soprano, Virginia, Jacqueline Noparstak, soprano, New York; Marcy Richardson, soprano, Florida: Julie Celona-VanGorden, soprano, North Carolina; Marcella Smith, soprano, Indiana; Krista Leigh Wilhelmsen, soprano, South Carolina and Heikyung Yu, soprano, New York.
The finalists were selected from over 60 entries from 22 states.
The finals were held at Paul Green Theater on the UNC Chapel Hill campus on April 26th at 8pm.
Emily Ezzie wins the 2008 National Vocal Competition.
Emily Ezzie, soprano, was named the winner of the 2008 Long Leaf Opera Competition. Ms. Ezzie has performed with the opera companies of Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Boston and Lucca, Italy. She was a Young Artist with Sarasota Opera amd has also sung with the Boston Pops and the Tanglewood Festival Orchestra. This spring, she can be seen as Mimi in Bel Cantanti's production of La Boheme in Washington.The second prize went to Krista Leigh Wilhelmsen, a graduate student at the University of South Carolina. Ms. Wilhelmsen has sung with New England Light Opera, Palmetto Opera, and Augusta Opera.
Jacqueline Noparstak of New York was awarded third prize. She has sung all over the country and recently won the Grand Prize of the AIMS Competition in Graz, Austria as well as the 2007 Liederkranz Foundation Competition.
Charming the audience with her bel canto selections and beautiful stage appearance was Julie Celona-Vangorden of Greensboro, winner of the Audience Favorite Award.
Ms. Ezzie will be offered a contract with Long Leaf Opera to sing a major role in an upcoming production.
Congratulations to all ten finalists!