Second Round 2009

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We would like to thank all the 56 singers for their participation and would also like to congratulate to those 14 who got into the final round.

David Alagna: The Last Day of a Condemned

ZOLTÁN NYÁRI (Hungary) - Le condamné (tenor)

The Hungarian tenor, Zoltán Nyári, began his musical studies as a violinist.He graduated as an actor from the Budapest Academy of Drama and Film, after which he started his career as a singer. He has performed numerous roles in the operetta repertory, most notably with the Operetta Theater of Budapest from 1996 to 2006, in musicals and operettes. Since 2005, he has been on the roster of the Hungarian State Opera, singing the roles of Mozart, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Kálmán and Lehár, among others.

DONITA VOLKWIJN (USA) - La condamnée (soprano)

Born in South Africa, the American soprano Donita Volkwijn has sung all over the world, but makes her

debut in Hungary with The Last Day of a Condemned. Ms.Volkwijn has performed in many roles but most

often in the operas of Mozart and Puccini

CHUL JUN KIM (South Korea) - Le Friauche (bass-baritone)

Chul Jun Kim, graduated from the University of Han-Yang in Seoul in 2002. He has completed his musical education in Italy, at the Novara Conservatory, the Scala Academy and the Conservatoire de Paris in France. Some of his roles have included singing in Mozart’s, Rossini’s and Donizetti’s operas. He has won several competitions.

Richard Strauss: Ariadné auf Naxos

PATRICK BLADEK (France) - Bacchus (tenor)

After a few seasons of singing baritone roles, Patrick Bladek moved his voice to the tenor's range. He began in France and Belgium, singing the title role of La Damnation de Faust (H. Berlioz), Don José ('Carmen'), Bacchus ('Ariadne auf Naxos'), Radamès ('Aïda'), Alfredo ('La traviata'), Mario Cavaradossi ('Tosca'), and most recently enjoyed great success as Rodolfo ('La Bohème'). Patrick Bladek has also performed in operettas:as Paris ('La Belle Hélène') in Israel, and Sou-Chong ('Das Land des Lächelns') in Mauritius.

ARIANA CHRIS (Canada) - Composer (mezzo-soprano)

Greek-Canadian mezzo-soprano Ariana Chris has been working with New York City Opera for the past three seasons. She debuted with international companies including Hong Kong Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Montreal Opera, Kentucky Opera, and Nantes Angers Opera. She represented Greece at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.

RITA RÁCZ (Hungary) - Zerbinetta (coloratura soprano)

Rita Rácz received her Bachelor degree at the Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Szeged in 2006. She studied singing with Istvan Andrejcsik. She received her Masters degree at Liszt Ferenc Academy of Music in Budapest in 2008, where she was taught by Eva Marton, Balazs Kovalik and Peter Oberfrank. She has been a member of the Hungarian State Opera since 2008.

Bohuslav Martinu: Alexander bis; Maurice Ravel: L'Heure Espagnole

FRIEDERIKE MEINEL (Germany) - Philomène / Concepcion (mezzo-sporano)

Friederike Meinel, the international award-winning mezzo-soprano, studied in Berlin and Mannheim. She has performed at important opera houses, including the Bavarian State Opera, Cologne Opera House, Semperoper in Dresden and the Ravinia Festival in Chicago. Ms. Meinel made her Vienna debut at the Vienna Festival in the title role of ‘Penthesilea’ and has performed in concerts with the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra, the Bavarian State Orchestra, the Gürzenich Orchestra in Cologne and the Berlin Symphony Orchestra, among others.

PÉTER BALCZÓ (Hungary) - Oscar / Gonzalve (tenor)

The Hungarian tenor, Péter Balczo, was born in Debrecen in 1983. He graduated from the Music Faculty of Debrecen University as a singer in 2009. He has been singing in the Csokonai Theatre in Debrecen since 2006, mostly in lyric and comprimario tenor roles. He participated in numerous international master classes and competitions.

STANISŁAW KIERNER (Poland) - Alexandre / Ramiro (baritone)

The Polish baritone, Stanislaw Kierner, made his debut in 2002 as Don Alfonso in 'Così Fan Tutte’ in Denmark, directed by Jonathan Miller. He completed his singing and instrumental studies (piano solo) in Lodz in Poland. He completed his singing education in the National Conservatory in Paris and Opera Studio of the Queen Elisabeth College of Music in Brussels. He sang the main roles in 'King Roger' by Szymanowski, 'Paradise Lost' by Penderecki and 'Carmen' by Bizet. He won first prize at the 12th International Ada Sari Vocal Art Competition in Poland.

Marco Tutino: Vita

ZUZANA DUNAJČANOVÁ(Slovakia) - Vita (soprano)

The Slovakian mezzo-soprano, Zuzana Dunajcanova, studied at the Conservatory of Bratislava and the Academy of Music and Performing Arts in Bratislava. She debuted as Dorabella in ’Cosi fan tutte’ on the stage of The National Moravian-Silesian Theatre andshe is currently performing in this theatre as a guest in the roles of Carmen, Lupa and Marcellina. She has alsoperformedinthe Slovak National Theatre in Mascagni’s ’Cavalleria Rusticana’as Mamma Lucia and Baba in ’The Mystery of Key’ from M. Dubovský. In 2008 she debuted in Klagenfurt as Afra in ’La Wally’.

CHAD ARMSTRONG (Canada) - John Donne (bass-bariton)

Canadian-American Chad Armstrong’s formidable baritone voice and natural acting abilities have garnered him success throughout the US and Europe. He has performed in roles which include Marcello, Schaunard, Ping, Sonora, Silvio, Mercutio, Germont and Taddeo, with companies such as Dicapo Opera, Utah Festival Opera, Opera in the Hamptons, Tulsa Opera and Operafest di Roma.

MARC HAFFNER (France) - Dr. Posner (tenor)

The French singer, Marc Haffner, graduated from the Conservatoire Supérieur of Paris. His major roles include Don José, Lensky, Macduff and Nerone. He has sung in the Opera Houses of Rennes, Metz and in Salle Pleyel, Paris, conducted by Laurent Petitgirard in ’Le Château des Carpathes’. He was a guest principal artist at the Theater of Ulm where he sang in roles that included Max ('The Freeshooter'), Tambourmajor ('Wozzeck') and The Prinz ('Love of Three Oranges'). Mr. Haffner was a Finalist in the Opera Competition and Festival with Mezzo Television in 2008, in which he sang Edgar Aubry in Marschner's ’Der Vampyr’.

Tobias Picker: Emmeline

KRISTIN SAMPSON (USA) - Emmeline Mosher (soprano)

American soprano, has appeared throughout the United States with the Santa Fe Opera, Dicapo Opera Theatre, Augusta Opera and the National Lyric Opera among others, and recently with the Szeged National Theatre. She holds degrees from Rice University and Sam Houston State University, and has been a winner and finalist in many national competitions, including the Liederkranz competition, the Metropolitan Opera Northwest Regional Auditions, and the Eleanor Lieber Competition. Her repertory includes Mimì, Juliette, Tosca, Adriana, Hanna Glawari, Micaëla and Violetta.

ZOLTÁN NYÁRI (Hungary) - Matthew Gurney (tenor)

The Hungarian tenor, Zoltán Nyári, began his musical studies as a violinist.He graduated as an actor from the Budapest Academy of Drama amd Film, after which he started his career as a singer. He has performed numerous roles in the operetta repertory, most notably with the Operetta Theater of Budapest from 1996 to 2006, and in musicals. Since 2005, he has been on the roster of the Hungarian State Opera, singing the roles of Mozart, Verdi, Tchaikovsky, Kálmán and Lehár, among others.

IULIA MERCA (Romania) - Aunt Hannah Watkins (mezzo-soprano)

Romanian mezzo-soprano, has appeared in opera’s leading roles, such as Rosina, Angelina, Carmen, Lola and Charlotte, and in international festivals and concerts. In 2004, she graduated from the Cluj Music Academy, and now performs with the Cluj National Opera. She has won several competitions, including the Hariclea Darclee International Singing Competition, Grand Prize. Her recordings include a 2005 DVD release of vocal works by G. Enescu.