The Metropolitan Opera's Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition Names Finalists for 2023

The ten finalists automatically receive a $10,000 prize, and will perform two arias with the Met Orchestra on April 23

Ten singers have been selected to advance to the final round of the 2023 Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition, which is hosted by the Metropolitan Opera. On April 23, they will take to the Met stage to perform two arias, accompanied by the Met Orchestra.

The winners of the competition will each receive a cash prize of $20,000, while all of the non-winning finalists will walk away with $10,000. As well as getting to sing with the Met Orchestra, each finalist will also gain a high level of exposure in the opera world.

The ten finalists are as follows:

• Eleomar Cuello, 28, baritone (Southeast Region; Havana, Cuba)
• Yuntong Han, 28, tenor (Central Region; Shenyang, China)
• Anthony León, 26, tenor (Western Region; Riverside, California)
• Natalie Lewis, 24, mezzo-soprano (Eastern Region; Severna Park, Maryland)
• Teresa Perrotta, 27, soprano (Great Lakes Region; Orlando, Florida)
• Sahel Salam, 29, tenor (Central Region; Houston, Texas)
• Sarah Saturnino, 29, mezzo-soprano (Western Region; Grass Valley, California)
• Christian Simmons, 28, bass-baritone (Rocky Mountain Region; Washington, D.C.)
• Meredith Wohlgemuth, 27, soprano (Eastern Region; Winter Haven, Florida)
• David Wolfe, 24, baritone (Upper Midwest Region; Shamokin, Pennsylvania)

These singers were selected from more than 1,200 applicants all over the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The early stages of the competition are divided into 36 districts, and over $300,000 of prize money has already been distributed at this level.

Founded in 1954, the Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition has played a role in launching the careers of many prominent singers. The competition has been crucial in introducing many of today’s best-known opera stars, including Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Eric Owens, and Stephanie Blythe.