XIV Concurso San Miguel 2023
Winners:
Tenor Leonardo Sánchez, 1st prize
Tenor Alberto Robert, 2nd prize
Tenor Carlos Velázquez, 3rd prize
Finalists:
Alberto Robert, Carolina Herrera,
Antonio Azpiri, Cristina Nakad, Carlos Velázquez,
Diana Mata, Daniel Gallegos, Dulce Guadarrama,
Leonardo Sánchez, Sofía Garza.
Ópera de San Miguel is proud to announce the results of Concurso San Miguel XIV, which took place on March 4, 2023 at Casa Dobarganes in San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato.
Maestro John Bills First Prize, $100,000: Leonardo Sánchez, tenor, 28. Sponsored by Shari Alexander.
Amistad Canada Second Prize, $75,000: Alberto Robert, tenor, 23.
The México Real San Miguel Third Prize, $50,000: Carlos Velázquez, tenor, 30.
The Opera San Luis Award: $20,000 pesos, for outstanding interpretation in the bel canto repertoire: Dulce Guadarrama, soprano, 28. Sponsored by Liliana del Conde.
The Pro Ópera Audience Favorite Award: $20,000: Carlos Velázquez.
OTHER AWARDS
Les Jeunes Ambassadeurs Lyriques Award: one-week program in Montreal, Quebec, for concerts and auditions with opera directors from several countries, and performance opportunities, in November of 2023: Diana Mata, soprano, 29. Sponsored by Alain Nonat.
The Meiningen Award: one-week trip to Gotha, Germany, to sing in the "Midsummer Night's Dream" Gala in August of 2023: Carlos Velázquez and Daniel Gallegos, baritone, 30. Sponsored by Jens Neundorff von Enzberg.
The Morelli Competition Award: direct pass to the semi-final round of the 40thedition of this national competition in May of 2023: Alberto Robert. Sponsored by Francisco Méndez Padilla.
The Maria Callas 2024 Competition Award: direct pass to the semi-final round of the 2024 competition in São Paulo, Brazil: Diana Mata and Carlos Velázquez. Sponsored by Paulo Esper, and endorsed by José Velasco.
The Iván López Reynoso Award: three work sessions on how to build an opera character: Leonardo Sánchez. Sponsored by Iván López Reynoso.
The Art Against Violence Foundation Award: two-week program in Barcelona, Spain, to prepare and sing a recital of opera arias and Mexican art songs in January-February of 2024: Diana Mata. Sponsored by Enid Negrete, including an encouragement grant of $10,000 pesos from Ópera de San Miguel.
The Árinder Award: one year of contractual legal advice for the 10 finalists of Concurso XIV. Sponsored by Jorge Arturo Alcázar and the Árinder Team.
FULL SCHOLARSHIPS (including tuition, transportation, room & board)
The Highlands Opera Studio Scholarship: a five-week summer program in Haliburton, Ontario, Canada, to prepare and sing the role of Dr. Dulcamara in the summer staging of Donizetti’s L'elisir d'amore: Antonio Azpiri, bass-baritone, 32. Sponsored by a group of Canadian donors of Ópera de San Miguel.
The Steans Music Institute Scholarship: a three-week fellowship at the Ravinia Festival in Illinois, for masterclasses, coachings and recitals in the summer of 2024: Cristina Nakad, soprano, 28. Sponsored by the director of the program for singers, Kevin Murphy, and endorsed by Cori Ellison.
The “México Canta" Scholarship: a five-week artistic residency in Toronto in October and November of 2023, including masterclasses, coachings, performance opportunities and closing gala concert: Diana Mata. Sponsored by baritone Stuart Graham.
The Daniel Catán - Ópera de Bellas Artes Scholarship,to cover soloi st roles in the production of Florencia en el Amazonasat the Palacio de Bellas Artes in Mexico City in September and October of 2023, attending all piano, stage and orchestra rehearsals: Diana Mata, soprano (the role of Rosalba) and Carlos Velázquez (the role of Arcadio). Sponsored by Andrea Puente-Catán and Alonso Escalante, artistic director of Ópera de Bellas Artes.
The “Operísima México” Scholarships: a three-week intensive workshop for the preparation of the title role in Mozart’s Don Giovanni, and a piano concert performance with a full cast: Daniel Gallegos. Plus, two scholarships for the preparation of any operatic role: Leonardo Sánchez and Alberto Robert. Sponsored by pianist and coach Rogelio Riojas.
ENCOURAGEMENT GRANTS
The Angels of Opera de San Miguel Encouragement Grants, of $10,000 pesos each, for a week of vocal and dramaturgical training in Mexico City with master-teacher Alejandra Sandoval and coach Cori Ellison: Carolina Herrera, soprano, 26; Cristina Nakad, and Sofía Garza.
The “José María García Muñoz" Encouragement Grant for tenacity and fortitude, of $10,000 pesos: Sofía Garza. Sponsored by Alejandra Sandoval.
JUDGES
Cori Ellison, Vocal Faculty, Juilliard School, New York City
Jens Neundorff v. Enzberg, Intendant, Meiningen Theater
Alain Nonat, artistic director, Théâtre Lyricorègra, Montreal
Andrea Puente-Catán, Hispanic Affairs, San Diego Opera
Alejandra Sandoval, Opera de San Miguel Master-Teacher
José Velasco Guerrero, Artistic Agent , Madrid, Spain
ARTISTIC TEAM
Mario Alberto Hernández, Pianist
Charles Oppenheim, Artistic Director, Opera de San Miguel