By Han Sang-hee
Staff Reporter
Korean tenor Lee Sung-eun was named the winner of the 2009 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions at the Grand Finals Concert last Sunday. After competing against eight talented national finalists, Lee was one of the four Grand Winners and was awarded $15,000. Tenor Paul Appleby, countertenor Anthony Roth Costanzo, and soprano Nadine Sierra were the other three.
The audition is an annual competitive event for aspiring young opera singers. The competition aims to discover exceptional young talent and to assist promising musicians in the development of their careers. Some of the world's foremost opera singers such as sopranos Renee Fleming and Debora Voigt, tenor Ben Heppner and baritone Thomas Hampson have received the award. The competition, designed for young musicians, accepts applicants between the ages of 20 to 30, and this year had been the last chance for the 30-year-old Korean tenor to compete.
A devout Christian, Lee said he ``would like to gain international fame and be able to support missionaries.'' He has already donated the $3,500 he received in the National Semi-Finals for missionary use and is planning to do the same with his latest prize.
A Yonsei University graduate, Lee completed his masters degree in vocal performance at Manhattan School of Music and has performed operatic roles and recitals in the United States and Italy. He is currently participating in a Vocal Arts Graduate Program at the Bard College Conservatory of Music and will return to Santa Fe this summer to perform the as the Headman in the world premiere of Paul Moravec's opera ``The Letter.''
Korea Times Intern Hwang Sung-hee contributed to this article.