Three Utah women emerged with top prizes in last week's San Francisco Opera Auditions, held at the Capitol Theatre.
Mezzo-soprano Marie-Adele McArthur was awarded first place, with a cash prize of $300. A native of New Zealand, she is a graduate of Brigham Young University and was a regional finalist in the 1991 Metropolitan Opera Auditions.Second prize of $200 went to soprano Anne Riggio. A finalist in the Glimmerglass Opera Apprentice Program, she sang the role of the Mother in Utah Opera's "Amahl and the Night Visitors" last year.
Mezzo Colleen Butler was the third-prize winner of $100. A native of Missouri, she is also a BYU graduate and for the past two years has been a member of Utah Opera's Opera in the Schools program.
McArthur and Butler took part in Utah Opera's first Young Artists Program. Riggio is currently enrolled in that program.
All three have been invited to audition Nov. 15 in San Francisco for the San Francisco Opera Center, which includes opportunities in Western Opera Theatre, Adler Fellowships and the Merola Program.
Judges this year included Kathy Cathcart, the center's music director; Utah Opera music administrator Lynn Jemison; and soprano Mary Paul, the Oscar in the company's current production of "Un Ballo in Maschera."