The women on the podium are the stars and the fabulous Dallas Opera Orchestra shines bright at the annual Hart Institute Showcase Concert. The only program of its kind, the Hart Institute provides training and career support for the next generation of women conductors, to address the profound gender imbalance that exists at the helm of the world’s opera orchestras. Following an intensive training residency, participants lead the acclaimed Dallas Opera Orchestra and exceptional vocal soloists in several operatic selections—and audiences will get a unique performer’s-eye-view of the conductor (via a live video stream projected onstage above the orchestra). A wonderful opportunity to hear a kaleidoscopic range of repertoire in a unique concert setting!

Conductors: Jiannan Cheng (China), Anna Castro Grinstein (Argentina), Valery Saul (USA), and CJ Wu (Taiwan)

The program features excerpts from Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Bizet’s Carmen, and Frank’s El último sueño de Frida y Diego.

Participating vocalists from Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music: sopranos Ashley Ruckman and Siyi Yan; mezzo-soprano Veronica Siebert; tenors Jinpark Choi and Josh Hooker; and baritone Robert Wente.

All Tickets $25

View the full program here or click the Flip Book.

 

 

 

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.

 

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

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Tickets Just $10
All seating is general admission.

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Founded by The Dallas Opera Guild/Bravo!

See and hear the best-of-the-best young talent compete on the Winspear stage for a chance to be discovered. Finalists will perform with The Dallas Opera Orchestra as they compete against singers from across the country, many of whom are already appearing with national opera companies. Attendees are invited to join the action by voting for the “People’s Choice Award” winner of the evening!

Winners announced!

First Place: Navasard Hakobyan, baritone
Second Place: Jongwon Han, bass-baritone
Third Place (tie): Elisa Sunshine, soprano and Katerina Burton, soprano
Jonathan Pell People’s Choice Award (determined by audience vote): Lisa Marie Rogali,mezzo-soprano

 

NINE FINALISTS SELECTED!

The finalists will each perform one aria for the final round performance.

Yeongtaek Yang, baritone: “O du, mein holder Abendstern” from Tannhäuser (Wagner)
Adia Evans, soprano: “Depuis le jour” from Louise (Charpentier)
Jongwon Han, bass-baritone: “Ves’ tabar spit” from Aleko (Rachmaninoff)
Matthew Cairns, tenor: “E lucevan le stelle” from Tosca (Puccini)
Elisa Sunshine, soprano: “À vos jeux, mes amis” (Mad Scene) from Hamlet (Thomas)
Lisa Marie Rogali, mezzo-soprano: “Una voce poco fa” from Il barbiere di Siviglia (Rossini)
Cody Bowers, countertenor: “Furibondo spira il vento” from Partenope (Handel) Note: Cody Bowers has withdrawn from the competition due to illness and will not be performing.
Navasard Hakobyan, baritone: “Cruda, funesta smania” from Lucia di Lammermoor (Donizetti)
Katerina Burton, soprano: “Tu che le vanità” from Don Carlo (Verdi)

Winners are selected by a distinguished panel of judges, chaired by The Dallas Opera’s Artistic Consultant David Lomelí and including Paul Hopper, Senior Director, Artistic Planning, LA Opera; Andreas Melinat, Vice President, Artistic Planning at Lyric Opera of Chicago; Nicole Paiement, The Martha R. and Preston A. Peak Principal Guest Conductor at The Dallas Opera and Founder and Artistic Director of Opera Parallèle; and Kristian Roberts, Director of Education at The Dallas Opera

 

View the full program here or in the Flip Book below. Programs and artists are subject to change.

 

ALL TICKETS: $10

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Join us for a festive concert of opera selections that showcases some of the world’s most brilliant young conductors. Each conductor will lead The Dallas Opera Orchestra in several pieces from one opera, sung by some of the country’s top singers from the cast of Elektra. The conductors and orchestra will be projected onto a large screen on stage providing a unique view of the performers and conducting style.

Conductors: Maria Benyumova (Germany), Micah Gleason (USA), Shira Samuels-Shragg (USA), and Jingqi Zhu (China)

The program features excerpts from Menotti’s The Consul, Puccini’s Suor Angelica, Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro, and Barber’s Vanessa.

Particpating vocalists: sopranos Jocelyn Hansen, Megan Kasanders, Hye Jung Lee, Alexandra Loutsion, and Terresa Perrotta; mezzo-sopranos Lindsay Kate Brown, Kristen Choi, Gretchen Krupp, and Meridian Prall; tenor Jordan Hammons; bass-baritone Kyle Albertson; and bass Seth-Emmanuel Clarke. 

TICKETS: $15-$50

Launched in 2015, the Hart Institute is the only program of its kind in the world and seeks to address the extreme gender imbalance of leadership on the podium. Since its inception, more than 500 women conductors from 40 nations have applied to be trained, advised, and supported by this extraordinary initiative.

This concert is the grand finale of an intensive two-week residency, which includes working with some of today’s most renowned industry leaders. Read more about the Hart Institute here.

View the full program here or click the Flip Book.