A few years ago the leadership of Opera de San Miguel decided to invest the organizations resources and efforts in promoting the extraordinary vocal talent of young Mexican opera singers. It is a fact that on the international scene in the world of opera these young singers are highly sought after. They are highly valued for a unique ‘latin sound’ and for an extraordinary access to the passionate level of expression so valued on the operatic stage. Concurso San Miguel was created in order to provide a part of the financial support necessary for these young artists to continue pursuing artistry at the highest levels. In the creation of the competition, Artistic Director Joseph McClain , believed that it was not enough simply to award prizes, but that the process of the competition itself should be a strong experience of professional development for the young artists participating in the finals. To that end,
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finalists receive almost a full week of intense dramatic, vocal, musical and language coaching in the days preceding the evening of the final round. San Miguel audiences have responded with wild enthusiasm leading to constantly sold out houses in the historic Teatro Angela Peralta and cheering, standing ovations. Since the inception of the competition the level of prizes awarded to the best of Mexico’s young talent has more than doubled. This is due to the extraordinary support of a dynamic team of volunteers and visionary individuals in the multi national community of San Miguel de Allende. We believe that the grants awarded by the competition provide not only resources, but also hope and a new path for great talent to follow. We clearly believe that the world’s great opera stages will someday celebrate the arrival of new and magnificent Mexican singers made possible in part by this effort.
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