School of Music students sweep Met Auditions

Indiana University once again proved its music program is among the best in the country when three Jacobs School of Music students received honors at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Tri-State Auditions.

Laura Wilde, a graduate student and soprano, won the top honor. As the semi-finalist, Wilde received $2,000 and an all-expense-paid trip to New York City in March for the MET National Semifinals, where one-to-two singers from 15 different regions will
compete.

“I spent the day before just chilling out, studying my scores, trying to figure out what I wanted to say with each piece,” Wilde said. “I worked on being as prepared as possible. I thought, ‘Whatever happens, happens.’”

What happened, Wilde said, was completely unanticipated.

“I wasn’t expecting everything,” Wilde said. “I’m still trying to let it sink in.”

During Saturday’s audition, each singer chose one aria to sing, after which the judges asked to hear up to four more.

Wilde started with an aria from the American opera “Little Women,” followed by two others.

She was the last to sing during the day, after which winners were announced.

Although Wilde won out of 12 other competitors Saturday at Butler University’s Clowes Memorial Hall in Indianapolis, runner-up Ljubomir Puskaric and Encouragement Award winner Andrew Kroes are both Jacobs’ students as well.

“They all did very well,” said Maria Levy, Indiana district director for the auditions.

All three competitors received cash prizes and feedback from the judges, which both Levy and Wilde said is always key at auditions.

Levy said each performer in the Tri-State auditions was impressive but the judges loved Wilde from the start.

“She has everything going for her,” Levy said. “She is very prepared for March’s auditions.”

Although Wilde did not expect to win, she said she is excited for the auditions and ready to prepare in the coming months.

Her preparation, she said, includes narrowing down what arias to sing and building on each opera by conducting research.

“I’ve auditioned there for grad school,” Wilde said. “I’m excited for the whole experience. I’m going to speak with former IU students who have done it before. Excited to see what happens.”