3 Singers Will Go On to Compete in Opera Auditions

Soprano Jennifer Smith, 27, of Tustin, came in first; Mel Whitehead, a 33-year-old bass from Anaheim, came in second, and Laura Fries, a 31-year-old soprano from Fountain Valley, came in third on Sunday among the 12 participants in the Orange County district Metropolitan Opera auditions held at Chapman University.

Each winner will compete in regional finals Nov. 1 and 2 at USC.

Smith, who placed third in last year’s district auditions, won $500 Sunday; Whitehead, who placed second in last year’s district tryout, won $300. Smith won $200.

Tenor John Nuzzo, 25, of Santa Ana, and soprano Laurel Boyd, 27, of Laguna Niguel, received an Encouragement Award. Boyd was the first-place winner in the district auditions last year..

The auditions, held each year, are first step toward the national auditions at the Metropolitan Opera in New York. Winners of those auditions receive contracts with the company.