ABERDEEN, S.D. – Northern State University School of Fine Arts student Elsa Swanson of Chaska, Minn., was chosen as a district winner of the 54th annual North Dakota-Manitoba District Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, held Oct. 28 at the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks.
Swanson, a senior music education major, is a soprano. She has studied under Dr. Darci Bultema, NSU associate professor of voice, during her time at NSU.
Swanson will join fellow district winners from across the Upper Midwest in March at the Upper Midwest Regional Auditions at Bethel University in St. Paul, Minn. Here, Swanson will compete to win a trip to New York City to participate in the National Semi-Finals, held on the stage of The Metropolitan Opera in April. Approximately 10 of the semi-finalists will be selected as national finalists, and will compete the following Sunday in the National Grand Finals Concert.
“It was such an honor to be named a winner in the district I competed in. I competed alongside 16 other highly talented performers from across North Dakota, South Dakota and Manitoba, which was an honor in itself,” Swanson said.
Swanson was also recently chosen as the winner of the 2017 Aberdeen University/Civic Symphony Concerto-Aria Vocal Competition on Nov. 16. Sophomore Tierra Decker of Huron won the Instrumental Competition. Both students will now perform with AUCS at its upcoming concert in February 2018.
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