Soprano Emily Damasco Wins First Place in VanderLaan Prize Competition

Soprano Emily Damasco recently won first-place honors and $10,000 in Opera Grand Rapids‘s 19th annual VanderLaan Prize Competition. Ten finalists, including fellow Curtis student Sarah Fleiss, were chosen to compete for cash prizes. Ms. Damasco performed the aria “Come scoglio” from Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Così fan tutte, accompanied by pianist Tongyao Li.

Each singer received feedback from a panel of opera artists and leaders, including composer Tobias Picker, mezzo-soprano Zoie Reams, and director Jay Lesenger, former general and artistic director of the Chautauqua Opera Company. Learn more about Opera Grand Rapids’s VanderLaan Prize Competition HERE.

Ms. Damasco entered the Curtis Institute of Music in 2018 and studies voice with Dolora Zajick. All students at Curtis receive merit-based, full-tuition scholarships, and Ms. Damasco is the Carol S. and Howard L. Lidz Fellow.

Watch the 2023 Final Round Concert HERE or click the video below.

The VanderLaan Prize 2023 from KBOgroup, Inc. on Vimeo.

Photos of Emily Damasco by Nichole MCH Photography.