Photo courtesy Kristine Ciesinksi
Melissa Fife, Kristine Ciesinski and Zina Hemingway at the regional Metropolitan Opera National Audition Feb. 12 in Seattle, Wash.

Student succeeds in Metropolitan Opera auditions

Gloria Layton LAY04003@BYUI.EDU A&E Asst. Editor

Rarely has BYU-Idaho had competitors in the Olympics of singing in North America, the Metropolitan Opera National Audition. In fact, it is only the second time in the history of BYU-I that a student has competed in the auditions.

After winning first place at the district level of the Metropolitan Opera National Audition, Zina Hemingway, a senior from Menomonie Wis., won third place at the regional finals in Seattle, Wash., on Feb. 12. Because of placing third, Hemingway was awarded a scholarship of $4,700 for further musical study.

First place winners from district finals competed in regional finals. Regional finalists come from western Canada, Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho.

Melissa Fife, BYU-I alumna from Blackfoot, Idaho, also auditioned and made it to the top 3 percent of the singers at the regional level.

“Both ladies sang beautifully and represented BYU-I in a manner that would have made you all proud. In addition to demonstrating great artistry, they were poised, generous of spirit and supportive of all the other contestants, exemplifying beauty of character as well as beauty of voice,” said Kristine Ciesinski, a voice teacher in the Music Department and Hemingway and Fife’s instructor.

Dallas Heaton, a senior from Rexburg, went with Fife and Hemingway as an accompanist.

“He was absolutely fabulous. He played like a professional, with great feeling and elegance, and he was a great emotional support to the ladies,” Ciesinski said.

Approximately 1, 500 singers between the ages of 20 and 30 compete in the Metropolitan Opera National Auditions.

“It is very unusual to win anything in this competition at the age of 21, as Zina did, and to come from a school that is not a high level music conservatory,” Ciesinski said.

Hemingway and Fife prepared to sing in the auditions by learning five arias in five different languages. They also learned proper historical, linguistic and dramatic style.

Hemingway performed two arias, one in Czech and one in Italian. Fife performed her arias in English and Italian.

As a result of her preparation and performance in the auditions, Hemingway has become interested in pursuing a career in professional operatic performance.

“As I started learning about performing, I started to love it more and more,” Hemingway said.

The Metropolitan Opera National Auditions have been going on for at least six decades and are sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera National Council.

Some benefits for singers competing in the auditions include to be heard by professionals in the business, to establish a network and to get an idea of how their development in singing is going.

“It was a great experience. I would encourage people to give it a try,” Fife said.