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 partnersforthearts@aol.com by April 25, 2025.
Reception follows.
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.
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
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.
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.
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.
“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
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.
Opera Afternoon with PARTNERS for the Arts presenting baritone Geoffrey DiGiorgio, soprano Melissa Mino, mezzo-soprano Pascale Spinney, tenor Michael Butler, and pianist Frank Conlon.
Accompanist Frank Conlon, soprano Ashley Larkin, tenor Israel Lozano, with the youngest member of the audience who was mesmerized by the performances, mezzo-soprano Margerita Yefimenko, baritone Geoffrey DiGiorgio, and BMS director Dr. Ivo Kaltchev.
PARTNERS for the Arts, Inc.
2022 9th National Opera Competition
(Virtual)
Congratulations to the Winners of
PARTNERS National Opera Competition 2022
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![]() Audience Choice
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Click here to listen to their Competition performances.
Donors Make a Difference
Our most sincere thank you to: The Jeane Dixon’s Children to Children Foundation for the donation of the 1st, 2nd prizes and other remaining awards; Drs. James and Wanda Trefil for the 3rd prize in Honor of Sylvia Trefil Mestek; Ms. Carla Jones Batka for The Audience Choice Award; Dr. Joyce S. Hagel and Mr. and Mrs. Mavin Burge for the Encouragement Awards; and all our donors without whom we would not be able to carry our mission.