Musics’ Fournie receives ‘Encouragement Award’ at Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions
David Fournie, a performance student in the SIUE Department of Music, was the recipient of an Encouragement Award in the Metropolitan Opera National Council St. Louis District Auditions. The competition took place at Ladue Chapel in Clayton, Missouri.
The MET Opera National Council is the most prestigious competition in the United States for young singers. David was among those auditioning, some came to from across the country to compete in the District competition in St. Louis. Encouragement Awards are presented to singers of promising talent, but recipients do not advance to the next round.
Fournie is a student of Dr. Marc Shapman, Associate Professor of Voice here at SIUE.
“David winning this award gives us a strong footing for recruitment. It is rare to see an undergraduate singer competing and placing in this prestigious competition. David’s achievement places our program in the spotlight in the St. Louis area. He is an excellent reflection of all of the hard-working singers in our program. This is a great achievement for our program and displays to prospective students that we can indeed prepare them to compete in the professional world of opera.”
The curriculum, especially the performance degree, in the Music Department gears students towards success in these types of competitions. Students are continually involved in courses and performance opportunities focusing on their vocal technique, interpretation, and language skills. They also encourage their students to participate in local and regional competitions to help them prepare to move on to the next level of competing, such as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions.
“We rarely have students, especially undergraduate students, competing in this national competition. The majority of singers performing are either enrolled graduate programs, or emerging professionals in the opera field. David was by far the youngest singer competing in the St. Louis Met Competition.” Says Shapman.
The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions is a program designed to discover promising young opera singers and assist in the development of their careers. The auditions are held annually in fourteen regions of the United States and Canada. There are forty-one districts within these regions, each providing an opportunity for talented singers to enter the auditions program at the local level. The Auditions are administered by National Council members and volunteers in each region.
After his undergraduate studies are complete here at SIUE, Fournie is continuing his journey at the next level. He has been admitted for graduate school to the Indiana University Jacobs School of Music and the Eastman School of Music. As well as, upcoming auditions at Boston Conservatory and The Conservatory of Music and Dance at UMKC.
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