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PARTNERS for the Arts, Inc. is pleased to announce the winners of its 12th National Opera Competition.
1st Prize
Ben Reisinger,
tenor
2nd Prize
Michelle M. Mariposa,
mezzo-soprano
3rd Prize
Daniel Rich,
baritone
Judges Special Award
Titus Muzi,
baritone
Audience Choice
Esther Tonea,
soprano
PARTNERS for the Arts Finalists 2025
Top Left: Ben Reislinger, tenor; Logan Wagner, tenor; Titus Muzi, baritone; Daniel Rich, baritone; Johnathan Patton, baritone.
Lower Left: Esther Tonea, soprano; pianist Tongyao Li; Michele M. Mariposa, mezzo-soprano; Teresa Perrota, soprano; Luke Norvell, tenor.
Judges:
| Preliminaries | Semifinals | Finals |
| Thomas Reilley | Gustavo Ahualli | Israel Gursky |
| Joy Schreier | Allen Perriello | Lee Anne Myslewski |
| Joseph Walsh | Peter Russell | David Neely |
We sincerely thank:
The Annunciation Catholic Church Catherine and Mary Roth Concert Series and
Frank Conlon,
Brian Quenton Thorne – Annunciation Catholic Church Event Coordinator,
Alan Savada and Will Stevenson – 2nd prize in honor of their son, Samuel J. Savada-Stevenson,
Nicole Alfandre Halbreiner – 3rd prize,
Drs. James and Wanda OBrien-Trefil – Judges Special Awards and Audience Choice in honor of Sylvia Mestek Trefil,
Jean Arnold – Finalist Travel Expenses,
Dr. Robert Misbin – Finalist Travel Expenses,
Dr. Susan Ohnmacht – Finalist Travel Expenses,
Dr. William Franklin Panici – Finalist Travel Expenses,
Mrs. Stephanie Ross Van Reigersberg – Finalist Travel Expenses.
Thank you to all the donors who made it possible for us to give over $40,000 in prizes this year.
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13th National Opera Competition – Finals LIVE
Sunday, April 12, 2026
5 pm
Annunciation Catholic Church
3810 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Free Admission.
Make a reservation at partners4thearts@aol.com by April 9, 2026.
Reception follows.
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Amadeus Concerts
A. Scott Wood, Artistic Director, Conductor
Opera Afternoon, in collaboration with PARTNERS for the Arts
Sunday, November 10, 2024 at Saint Francis Episcopal Church, Great Falls
with Cara Schaefer, mezzo-soprano; Israel Lozano, tenor; Frank Conlon, pianist; Jessica Stecklein, soprano; and Jose Sacin, baritone.
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12th National Opera Competition – Finals LIVE
Sunday, April 27, 2025
5 pm
Annunciation Catholic Church
3810 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Free Admission.
Make a reservation at partners4thearts@aol.com by April 25, 2025.
Reception follows.
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PARTNERS is pleased to announce the winners of its 2024 11th National Opera Competition
This year dedicated in loving memory of Vicky Tresansky
1st Prize Winner
Sara LeMesh – Soprano
2nd Prize Winner and
Audience Choice Award
Daniel O’Hearn – Tenor
3rd Prize Winner
Maggie Reneè – Mezzo-soprano
Judges Special Award
Esther Tonea – Soprano
Donors Make a Difference
Our most sincere thank you to:
The Annunciation Catholic Church Catherine and Mary Roth Concert Series
Alan Savada and Will Stevenson – 2nd prize in honor of their son: Samuel J. Savada-Stevenson
Vicky Tresansky – the finalists’ awards
Drs. James and Wanda Trefil – 3rd prize in honor of Sylvia Mestek Trefil
Dr. Robert Misbin – The Audience Prize Award
And all the other donors who make it possible for us to give $24,000 in prizes this year.
For sharing their expertise with us, our most sincere thank you to our judges:
Richard Leech, Thomas Reilly, Joseph Walsh, Julia Cooke, Kevin Short, Ken Weiss, Christopher Cano, Elizabeth Futral, and Timothy Nelson.
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PARTNERS for the Arts, Inc.
2023 10th National Opera Competition
Awards:
First Prize – $10,000; Second – $5,000; Third – $2,500;
Audience Prize – $1,000 – Judges Special Award – $1,000;
All Finalists $500
We are pleased to present the winners of PARTNERS for the Arts
10th National Opera Competition
First Prize
Magdalena Kužma – soprano
2nd Prize and Audience Choice.
Donghoon Kang – bass-baritone
3rd Prize
Amanda Simms – soprano
Judges Special Award
Ashlyn Rock – soprano
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Donors Make a Difference
Our most sincere thank you to:
Alan Savada and Will Stevenson – 2nd prize in honor of their son, Samuel J. Savada-Stevenson, Drs. James and Wanda Trefil – 3rd prize in Honor of Sylvia Trefil Mestek, Dr. Bob Misbin – The Audience Prize Award, Ms. Cynthia Bianchi in memory of Holly Bianchi and Dr. William Panici each sponsoring a Finalist Award, and Victoria Tresansky, who covered all the other finalists’ Awards. And all the other donors who made it possible for us this year to give over $22,000 in prizes.
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11th National Opera Competition – Finals
LIVE
Sunday, April 21, 2024
5 pm
Annunciation Catholic Church
3810 Massachusetts Ave. NW, Washington, D.C.
Free Admission.
Make a reservation at partnersforthearts@aol.com by April 19, 2024.
Reception follows.
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AMADEUS CONCERTS, in collaboration with PARTNERS for the Arts
“An Opera Celebration”
with baritone John Allen Nelson, soprano Ashley Rose Larkin, accompanist Frank Conlon, soprano Melissa Mino, and tenor Joseph Haughton.
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“Some Enchanted Evening”
Opera Singers got to Broadway!
The Music of Rodgers & Hammerstein
South Pacific & The King and I
Soprano Emily Casey, Dr. Elaine Walter, tenor Nathan Hawsey, mezzo-soprano Nakia Verner, baritone Gustavo Ahualli,
and maestro Richard Fazio
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Trinity Chamber Orchestra, in collaboration with PARTNERS Semi-staged favorite excerpts from Lehár’s “The Merry Widow” by Dr. Elaine Walter.
Guest singer baritone Gustavo Ahualli, 2nd prize winner 2014 Competition soprano Emily Casey, Competition finalist mezzo-soprano Grace Gilday, guest singer tenor Michael Butler, and maestro Richard Fazio.