Witness dreams come true as vocal talents from across Texas converge on the Dallas Arts District for a chance to sing on the Winspear stage—and win cash prizes! Singers compete for the opportunity to dazzle our local judges and win the hearts of our opera-loving audiences, who vote for the “People’s Choice” winner at the end of the evening. This concert is brimming with exceptional talent and youthful energy, an intoxicating and inspiring experience for all!

Hosted by Sylvia D’Eramo, previous Vocal Competition winner and performing the role of Mimì in this season’s finale of La bohème, running Feb. 28–Mar. 9.

WINNERS ANNOUNCED!

First Place: Kayla Nanto, mezzo-soprano
Kayla Nanto is automatically advanced to the final round of the 2026 National Vocal Competition.
Second Place: Michael Pandolfo, baritone
Third Place: Ani Kushyan, mezzo-soprano
Jonathan Pell People’s Choice Award (determined by audience vote): Kayla Nanto, mezzo-soprano

9 FINALISTS SELECTED

The finalists will each perform the following arias during the first round of the Vocal Competition:

Amelia Burshe, soprano: “Amour ranime mon courage” from Roméo et Juliette (Charles Gounod)

Stephanie Doche, mezzo-soprano: “Se Romeo t’uccise un figlio” from I Capuleti e i Montecchi (Vincenzo Bellini)

Sam Dhobhany, bass-baritone: “Scintille diamant” from Les contes d’Hoffmann (Jacques Offenbach)

Joanne Evans, mezzo-soprano: “New scenes of joy” from Theodora (George Frideric Handel)

Laura Corina Sanders, soprano: “I never travel without one … a hand mirror” from Postcard from Morocco (Dominick Argento)

Ani Kushyan, mezzo-soprano: “Oh mio Fernando!” from La favorita (Gaetano Donizetti)

Michael Pandolfo, baritone: “Largo al factotum” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (Gioachino Rossini)

Kayla Nanto, mezzo-soprano: “Nobles seigneurs, salut!” from Les Huguenots (Giacomo Meyerbeer)

Ardeen Pierre, soprano: “Toi qui sus le néant” from Don Carlo (Giuseppe Verdi)

After a brief pause, each artist will sing a second aria of the judges’ choosing. After the second round of singing, there will be a brief intermission while the judges deliberate. The audience may vote for the People’s Choice winner at this time.

Amelia Burshe: “I want magic!” from A Streetcar Named Desire (André Previn) OR “Ah fors’è lui” … “Sempre libera” from La traviata (Giuseppe Verdi)

Stephanie Doche: “Midnight in the Loneliest Hour” from JFK (David T. Little) OR “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini)

Sam Dhobhany: “Non più andrai” from Le nozze di Figaro (Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart) OR “Come, master, observe the host” from The Rake’s Progress (Igor Stravinsky)

Joanne Evans, Mezzo Soprano: “Cruda sorte” from L’italiana in Algeri (Rossini) OR “Wie Du warst!” from Der Rosenkavalier (Richard Strauss)

Laura Corina Sanders: “Regnava nel silenzio” from Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti) OR “Die Wiener Herrn verstehen sich” from Arabella (Strauss)

Ani Kushyan: “Werther! Werther! Qui m’aurait dit la place” from Werther (Jules Massenet) OR “Höre mit Sinn” from Götterdämmerung (Richard Wagner)

Michael Pandolfo: “Hai già vinta la causa!…Vedrò mentre io sospiro” from Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart) OR “Ô vin, dissipe la tristesse” from Hamlet (Ambroise Thomas)

Kayla Nanto: “We had one room” from Elizabeth Cree (Kevin Puts) OR “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini)

Ardeen Pierre: “My Man’s Gone Now” from Porgy & Bess (George Gershwin) OR “Dich, teure Halle” from Tannhäuser (Wagner)

Winners are selected by a distinguished panel of judges, chaired by The Dallas Opera’s Artistic Consultant, David Lomelí. The rest of the panel includes Annie Burridge, General Director & CEO of Austin Opera; Jonathan Pell, TDO’s former Artistic Director; Kristian Roberts, TDO Director of Education; and Emmanuel Villaume, the Mrs. Eugene McDermott Music Director of The Dallas Opera.

View the full program here or in the Flip Book below.

Tickets Just $10
All seating is general admission.

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