A STAR IS BORN
Pittsburgh opera singer wins $20K and coveted shot at fame
Opera singers often appear in pop culture as melodramatic characters in horned Viking helmets. Well, those helmets come in handy sometimes. Opera can be quite the gladiatorial sport.
In March, Pittsburgh Opera resident artist Emily Richter flew to New York City for a week to compete in the final rounds of the prestigious Laffont Competition at the Metropolitan Opera.
The stakes were as high. Careers are made at this competition, as winning is a universal stamp of approval accepted at any opera hall in the country.
A win all but guarantees notice from casting directors and highlevel artist agents — the arts equivalent of sports scouts — who can help secure auditions and contracts. Plus, there’s a $20,000 cash prize.
Richter won. Out of hundreds of singers from around the country, the 26-year-old soprano, originally from Arlington, Va., was chosen by judges as one of 2024’s five grand prize winners.
“A win can absolutely expedite a career,” said seasoned singer Marianne Cornetti, of Pittsburgh, who performs regularly at the Met and top stages around the world for decades.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if she’s contracted by the Met in the coming years,” Cornetti said proudly.
Road to Victory
Arts economics are not in favor of young artists today. There are many more young singers than there are professional contracts available. Training in opera is time-consuming and expensive, and it’s incredibly difficult to arrive at the point where earning a living from singing alone is possible.
Competitions like the Laffont help singers do just that.
But to even reach the final round is an arduous journey that requires both immense talent and mental fortitude.
The Laffont Competition begins with a qualifying round in the summer, where singers submit recordings to be considered for an in-person audition. (Richter pre-qualified for this round based on her performance in the competition in previous years.)
Then, there’s the district round. Pittsburgh is one of three districts along with Buffalo-Toronto and Michigan that make up the Great Lakes region. Both of those rounds were organized by Marianne Cornetti and took place in Pittsburgh in December and January.
The prizes scale accordingly. District winners in Pittsburgh received $7,250, and regional winners took home $10,000.
The semi-final round took place in New York City. At this round, 20 singers have four arias prepared