Atlanta Opera Announces Finalists for 96-Hour Opera Project

Each pair of composers and librettists will write a 10-minute opera, with the winners receiving $10,000 and a commission opportunity

The Atlanta Opera's  96-Hour Opera Project offers a cash prize of $10,000, as well as the commissioning of a new chamber opera — to be produced and performed by the company in an upcoming season.

The competition pairs composers with librettists, challenging them to create a 10-minute opera. Then, the five final teams will travel to Atlanta, Georgia, between June 9 and June 12 to hear their operas rehearsed and performed in the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College.

The selected composers are as follows:

• Nathan Felix
• Omar Najmi
• Dave Ragland
• Edward Shilts
• Jorge Sosa

The librettists who will work with them are as follows:

• Laura Barati
• Anita Gonzalez
• Alejandra Martinez
• Selda Sahin
• Catherine Yu

The competition jury comprises Mark Campbell, Doug Hooker, Andrea Davis Pinkney, Tazewell Thompson, Priti Gandhi, and Tinashe Kajese-Bolden.

"The rich history of Atlanta rests not only in the lives of the most famous, but in the courage and strength of even the most unrecognized people," said Tomer Zvulun, The Atlanta Opera's General and Artistic Director.

"Our goal is to lift up the inspirational stories that reflect the multicultural history of Atlanta and to amplify the voices of a diverse group of talented emerging creators."

"The level of talent here is stunning," said Morris Robinson, one of the project's advisors. "I cannot wait to hear and see what they prepare over the coming months."