ASPIRING OPERA SINGERS SOUGHT FOR 10th ANNIVERSARY OF OPERA IDOL

Aspiring opera singers from across the country are invited to vie for a full tuition scholarship and round trip airfare to the Milnes Voice Studio in Savannah, Georgia. The highly esteemed program is led by world-renowned baritone Sherrill Milnes, soprano Maria Zouves and distinguished colleagues. Audition tapes for the prestigious 10th Annual Opera Idol competition, hosted by The Merion will be accepted until March 1, 2016.

Opera Idol was developed to encourage budding opera stars in a format made famous by popular talent search television programs. An original pool of dozens of college and graduate students will begin competing in a series of competitive rounds leading up to the Opera Idol Final.

Audition Timeline for The 10th Annual Opera Idol Competition (for participants ages 20-34):

· March 1st-All applications with audition CD’s or mp3 files are due.

· March 1st-March 2nd-Qualifying participants will be notified and assigned a preliminary round competition date.

· March 9th, 16th, and 24th-Preliminary rounds begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom at The Merion in Evanston. Winners proceeding to the final round will be announced at the conclusion of each preliminary round.

· April 15th-The final round begins at 7 o’clock p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom at The Merion in Evanston. The program will be conducted in a combination competition and master class format with Maestro Sherrill Milnes directing. The Grand Prize Winner will be announced at the end of the evening.

PRIZE: Full tuition valued at $3000, and round trip airfare to attend the Milnes Voice Studio in Savannah Georgia.

The Opera Idol ‘Junior’ Competition (for participants ages 14-19)

· March 10th: -All applications with audition CD’s or mp3 files are due

· March 21st and 22nd-Qualifying participants will be notified.

· March 29th-Preliminary competition begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom at The Merion in Evanston.

· April 1st-Junior final competition begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Crystal Ballroom at The Merion in Evanston.

PRIZE: The Opera Idol ‘Junior’ prize is a $500 scholarship to apply towards tuition for Camp Voice for Teens in Savannah, Georgia, or towards continued vocal studies of the winner’s choosing.

Please visit www.MerionEvanston.com/apply-for-idol to access the competition rules and application instructions and form.

The Merion is located at 1611 Chicago Avenue in Evanston, Illinois.

For additional information about Opera Idol, call 847-570-7895 .

For media info please call IVY Marketing Group at 630-790-2531. 


The Merion is a luxury senior apartment community for active, independent retirees seeking a hassle-free rental home in Evanston. Formerly known as The North Shore Hotel, The Merion has been totally renovated with upscale finishes and amenities. For additional information, visit www.MerionEvanston.com or call 847-570-7895.