The Met Opera Auditions will take place Saturday and Sunday, January 26th and 27th, 2013 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Colorado-Wyoming District Finals begin Saturday, January 26th at 9:30am followed by the Rocky Mountain Regional Finals on Sunday, January 27th at 1:30pm. Admission to both days is free and no tickets are required. Of the 46 singers who have applied to sing on Saturday, 10-15 will be chosen to audition on Sunday. Sunday's winner will represent the Rocky Mountain Region at the National Grand Finals on the Met stage in March and compete for a $15,000 prize. A reception with hors d'oeuvres, wine and a performance by the Opera Colorado Young Artists will follow Sunday's auditions in the lobby of the Opera House. Reception admission is $15 (RSVP to sdiltsj@mac.com or 720-530-0483).
 
The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions held its first audition in 1954 in the Twin Cities. and over the past 59 years has helped discover generations of opera talent. Approximately 100 former participants in the National Council Auditions appear on the Met roster every season and nearly half of those are National Winners. The regional auditions offer participants the chance to advance to the National Finals on the Metropolitan Opera stage in March 2013 where they can compete for a $15,000 prize. For all those who enter, the opportunity to perform for nationally recognized judges and an enthusiastic audience of opera lovers can be an important step in their career development.Renee Fleming, Susan Graham, Frederica von Stade, Thomas Hampson, Deborah Voigt, and many other opera luminaries were winners of the Met Auditions.