Mary Jacobs Smith
Singer of the Year Competition

Date and Time

Saturday, March 4 and Sunday, March 5, 2023
Saturday, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. and 2-4 p.m. and Sunday 1:30-4 p.m.

Location

First Presbyterian Church (Chapel)
900 Jordan Street
Shreveport, LA 71101

Price

FREE
Soprano Susanne Burgess crowned 2023 "Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year"!

Information

Chosen from hundreds of applicants, 24 emerging professional opera singers traveled from across the country on March 4 and 5, 2023, to vie for the title of Mary Jacobs Smith Singer of the Year.

Click on the photo of each contestant to visit their website.

The judges:

  • Luretta Bybee, opera singer; Professor of Voice, Loyola University (New Orleans)
  • Andrea DelGiudice, founder and the director of Vocal Arts at The Narnia Festival in Narni Italy; voice teacher; and talent consultant for Encompass Arts
  • Greer Grimsley, world-renowned Wagnerian bass-baritone

The prizes:

  • The Mary Jacobs Smith Award (1st prize) $10,000
  • The Charles Maggio Award (2nd prize) $5,000
  • The Robert J. Murray Memorial Award (3rd prize) $3,000
  • The Lorena Bessey Mangin Memorial Award (4th prize) $2,000
  • The Jennifer White Memorial Award (5th prize) $1,000
  • The Katherine S. Tyrrell Memorial Award (honorable mention - $300)
  • The Dr. & Mrs. Bob Robinson Award (honorable mention - $300)
  • The La Wanda & Ernest Blakeney Award (honorable mention - $300)
  • The Phyllis Linke-Lamb Memorial Award (honorable mention - $300)
  • The Dr. Melvin & Lea Johnson Memorial Award (honorable mention - $300)
  • The Shreveport-Bossier Opera Guild Audience Choice Award ($300)

Featured Artists / Guests

Susanne Burgess

Susanne Burgess

Singer of the Year Winner & Audience Choice Winner

Lawrence Barasa Kiharangwa

Lawrence Barasa Kiharangwa

1st Runner-up (Maggio Award)

Spencer Reichman

Spencer Reichman

2nd Runner-up (Murray Award)

Bridget Cappel

Bridget Cappel

3rd Runner-up (Mangin Award)

Anthony Ciaramitaro

Anthony Ciaramitaro

4th Runner-up (White Award)

Navasard Hakobyan

Navasard Hakobyan

Honorable Mention (Tyrrell Award)

Michelle Mariel Mariposa

Michelle Mariel Mariposa

Honorable Mention (Linke-Lamb Award)

Bryan Murray

Bryan Murray

Honorable Mention (Blakeney Award)

Xavier Prado

Xavier Prado

Honorable Mention (Robinson Award)

Ethel Trujillo

Ethel Trujillo

Honorable Mention (Johnson Award)

Sarah Joyce Cooper

Sarah Joyce Cooper

Semi-finalist

Gabrielle Gilliam

Gabrielle Gilliam

Semi-finalist

Edith Grossman

Edith Grossman

Semi-finalist

Robert Hartfield

Robert Hartfield

Semi-finalist

Shanley Horvitz

Shanley Horvitz

Semi-finalist

Erik Earl Larson

Erik Earl Larson

Semi-finalist

Chelsea Lehnea

Chelsea Lehnea

Semi-finalist

Kaylee Nichols

Kaylee Nichols

Semi-finalist

Andrew Payne

Andrew Payne

Semi-finalist

Clara Reeves

Clara Reeves

Semi-finalist

Nathan Schafer

Nathan Schafer

Semi-finalist

Luke Sutliff

Luke Sutliff

Semi-finalist

Hilary Grace Taylor

Hilary Grace Taylor

Semi-finalist

Steve Valenzuela

Steve Valenzuela

Semi-finalist