By Nicole Mills

The Mexico District Auditions of the Metropolitan Opera National Council (MONC) are on the calendar for Dec. 17. Due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the application, selection, and audition processes have been changed from live to virtual, but the challenge did not intimidate aspiring young opera stars.

Earlier this year, more than 1,200 application videos from across North America were submitted virtually to the New York-based MONC. The selection process trimmed the number down and 618 singers will now participate in virtual auditions in 30 cities across North America.

“In Mexico, 29 young opera singers qualified to perform in this year’s San Miguel auditions,” says Joan Mitchell, president of the San Miguel MetOpera Trust. “I want to congratulate the MetOpera National Council for caring enough about these hugely talented young opera singers and for showing such dedication to produce the virtual 2020–2021 auditions season,” she added.

On the day of the auditions, Mexican singers, whether at home or elsewhere in the world, will be taken, one by one, to the virtual Green Room. There they will meet the technical team that will virtually connect them to a panel of judges, located around North America, who will proceed with the selection of winners.

“I will miss the physical contact with our singers,” says Mitchell. “This is so much part of enjoying not only the music but the presence of the singers,” she says. “That is why I have made sure that all friends donors, supporters, colleagues, and volunteers of the San Miguel MetOpera Trust are the first to hear the names of the winners when they are announced live, at approximately 7 p.m., on Facebook and on the MONC YouTube platform,” Mitchell added.

Should anyone miss the announcement of the winners on Dec. 17, they can see highlights on sanmiguelmetoperatrust.org.

For additional information, go to sanmiguelmetoperatrust.org.