The Opera Guild assists local voice students, both undergraduate and graduate, with scholarships, grants, competitive prizes, and opportunities to perform for the community.

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2017 Quest for the Best Awards

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On March 11, 2017, the Opera Guild of Southern Arizona handed out checks totaling $11,050 to 17 student singers from the University of Arizona and Pima Community College. We had committed to award $10,000, but raised more, which was lucky, because the votes for first place among undergraduates and third place for graduates were too close to call. When that happens, we dig into our pockets and award the higher prize to both contenders.

Thanks to Judi Hasbrouck and her committee for a wonderful afternoon of singing and refreshments, and to our Board, membership and friends for supporting our efforts to help these young singers further their careers. Thanks also to Joseph Specter, President of Arizona Opera, for the generous donation of four orchestra seats to Rossini’s Cinderella which were raffled off at Quest.

Graduate winners from left: Ariana Iniguez, Michelle Perrier, Mark Hockenberry, Kristen Lucas

See, hear, and download all the graduate arias.

 

Undergraduate winners, from left: Antonio Cruz, Taylor Trolia-Giron, Clare Demer, Joseph Gouge

See, hear, and download all the undergraduate arias.

2017 Quest for the Best Graduate Arias

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2017 Quest for the Best Graduate Singers

L to R: Ariana Iniguez, Samantha Hornback, Piper Pack-Smith, Michelle Perrier, Jamey Wright, Mark Hockenberry, Kristen Lucas, Abigail Hart, Soleil Oliva. (photo by Leo Belardinelli)

Graduate HD Videos

Go to Graduate Audio Files

  1. First Place ribbon

    Ariana Iniguez, soprano: Carceleras, from Las hijas del Zebedeo, by Ruperto Chapí (1851–1909).

    This lyric love song (romanza) has been a favorite of sopranos and mezzos, both Spanish and foreign.

  2. Samantha Hornback, soprano : O luce di quest’anima, from Linda di Chamounix, by Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848).

    Linda sings of her love for Carlo, the “light of her soul.”

  3. Piper Pack-Smith, mezzo-soprano : Re dell’abisso, affrettati, from Un ballo in maschera, by Giuseppi Verdi (1813–1901).

    The fortune-teller Ulrica calls upon the King of the Abyss to give her the power to see the future.

  4. Second Place ribbon

    Michelle Perrier, soprano: Guilleaume Walzer, from Zehn Mädchen und kein Mann, by Franz von Suppé (1819–1895).

  5. Jamey Wright, soprano : Ach, ich fühl’s, from Die Zauberflöte, by W. A. Mozart (1756–1791).

    Pamina fears that the absent Tamino does not love her.

  6. Third Place ribbon

    (tie) Mark Hockenberry, baritone: Votre toast, je peux vous le rendre, from Carmen, by Georges Bizet (1838–1875).

    In the famous Toreador Song, Escamillo conveys the excitement of the bull ring and the reward—love!

  7. Third Place ribbon

    (tie) Kristen Lucas, soprano: Glitter and Be Gay, from Candide, by Leonard Bernstein (1918-1990).

    Cunegonde is surviving as a courtesan. She assuages her guilt and shame by reveling in her luxurious lifestyle.

  8. Abigail Hart, soprano : Ah! Je veux vivre, from Roméo et Juliette, by Charles Gounod (1818–1893).

    When others speak of marriage, Juliet sings that she prefers to live inside her dream, in eternal spring.

  9. Soleil Oliva, soprano: Klänge der Heimat, from Die Fledermaus, by Johann Strauss II (1825–1899).

    Rosalinda, disguised as a Hungarian countess, sings a rousing csárdás to prove her nationality.

2017 Graduate Audio Files

2017 Quest for the Best Undergraduate Arias

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2017 Quest for the Best Undergraduate Singers

L to R: Brianna Barnhart, Dan Marino, Clare Demer, Joseph Gouge, Emily Garcia, Kristen Fabry, Antonio Cruz, Taylor Trolia-Giron (photo by Leo Belardinelli)

Undergraduate HD Videos

Go to Undergraduate Audio Files

  1. Brianna Barnhart, soprano: Les oiseaux dans la charmille, from Les contes d’Hoffmann, by Jacques Offenbach (1819–1880)
    Olympia, a mechanical doll, sings an aria that enchants Hoffmann, despite her needing to be wound up along the way.
  2. Dan Marino, tenor: A tenor, all singers above, from Utopia, Limited, by Arthur Sullivan (1842–1900)
    Captain Fitzbattleaxe tells his love, Zara, that his passion is adversely affecting his singing voice.
  3. Third Place ribbon

    Clare Demer, soprano: O quante volte, from I Capuleti ed i Montecchi, by Vincenzo Bellini (1801–1835)

    Juliet expresses her longing for Romeo.

  4. Joseph Gouge, tenor: Vainement ma bien-aimee, from Le roi d’Ys, by Edouard Lalo (1823–1892)
    Mylio, a young warrior, tries to convince his fiancée to join him in the wedding procession.
  5. Emily Garcia, soprano: Ach ich fühl’s, from Die Zauberflöte, by W. A. Mozart (1756–1791)
    Pamina fears that the absent Tamino does not love her.
  6. Kristen Fabry, mezzo-soprano: En vain pour éviter,from Carmen, by Georges Bizet (1838–1875)
    In the cards Carmen foresees death for both her and José.
  7. First Place ribbon

    (tie) Antonio Cruz, baritone: Come Paride vezzoso, from L’elisir d’amore, by Gaetano Donizetti (1797–1848).

    Sgt. Belcore is confident of success as he woos Adina, since no girl can resist the sight of a military uniform.

  8. First Place ribbon

    (tie) Taylor Trolia-Giron, soprano: Mi chiamano Mimì, from La bohème, by Giacomo Puccini (1858–1924).

    Mimì describes her life as an embroidress in her tiny room overlooking the rooftops of Paris.

2017 Undergraduate Audio Files

2016 Quest for the Best Arias and Awards

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The thirteenth annual Quest for the Best was held February 27, 2016, at Holsclaw Hall on the UA campus. Attendees heard 15 promising young singers (8 undergraduates and 7 graduate students) and enjoyed a wine and hors d’oeuvres reception. The awards, determined by audience ballot, are shown below.

Graduate Awards

Go to graduate arias.

Amount
 Donor Winner
$1500 OGSA in honor of Felicia Sanders May

Samantha Luna, mezzo-soprano
$1200
 OGSA

Ariana Iniguez, soprano
$900

Susan & Frank Finkenberg and
Patricia & Patrick Schifano

 Brian McNiff, tenor
$600

Judi Hasbrouck & Sid Wolitzky

Michelle Perrier, soprano

Undergraduate Awards

Go to undergraduate arias.

Amount
 Donor Winner
$1000 OGSA Kyle DeGraff, tenor
$750 OGSA Clare Demer, soprano
$500
 Carolyn & Russ Russo Caroline Crawford, soprano (tie)
$500
 OGSA and The Swedish Award, from
Eva & Hans Bennich		 Antonio Cruz, baritone (tie)

The technical staff of the UA School of Music graciously recorded all the arias. You can listen and/or download them by clicking on the files below, shown in the order performed.

Note: Flash player is required.

 

2016 Graduate Arias

2016 Undergraduate Arias

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