CSUF Singer Takes Honors

A 23-year-old Cal State Fullerton student, baritone Aram Barsamian of Pasadena, took top honors Saturday in the Orange County district Metropolitan Opera auditions.

Finishing just behind Barsamian were soprano Jennifer Smith, 28, of Tustin, and soprano Megan Weston, 27, of Buena Park, who came in second and third respectively among the eight participants in the competition held at Chapman University.

Each of the three winners will compete in regional finals Nov. 13 at USC.

Barsamian won $500 on Saturday; Smith, who placed first in last year’s district auditions, and Weston each won $300.

Tenor John Nuzzo, 26, of Santa Ana received an Encouragement Award, which he also won last year.

The judges were Nataline Limonick, formerly of USC and president of the Opera Guild of Southern California; Elizabeth Mannion, who teaches voice at UC Santa Barbara, and Patrick Tavernia, a stage director at the Metropolitan Opera for 25 years.

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