And the winner of the 2025 Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year competition is…
Tenor, Thomas Kinch!
Winners:
1st – The Mary Jacobs Smith $10,000 Award – Thomas Kinch , Tenor
2nd – The Charles Maggio $5,000 Award – Meryl Domingez, Soprano
3rd – The Robert J. Murray Memorial $3,000 Award – Josie Larsen, Soprano
Congratulations to all 10 finalists!
Awards from left to right:
Josie Larsen – 3rd – The Robert J. Murray Memorial $3,000 Award and the Stephen Roberts Audience Choice $500 Award
Lucy Baker – 4th – The Lorena Bessey Mangin Memorial $2,000 Award
Meryl Domingez – 2nd – The Charles Maggio $5,000 Award
Christian Humbert Jr. – The Katherine S. Tyrrell Memorial $500 Award
Thomas Kinch – 1st – The Mary Jacobs Smith $10,000 Award and the Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild Audience Choice $500 Award
Cumhur Gorgun – The La Wanda & Ernest Blakeney $500 Award
Justin Burgess – The Janice Aiken $500 Award
Gwenyth Sell – The Dr. & Mrs. Bob Robinson $500 Award
Madeleine Lyon – 6th – The Dr. Melvin & Lea Johnson and Neil Johnson Memorial $750 Award
Anna Kelly – 5th – The Jennifer White Memorial $1,250 Award