Alumni Take Center Stage in Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition

In a showcase of exceptional talent, NEC alumni triumphed in the district rounds of the prestigious Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition in December, securing spots in the upcoming regional rounds. Among the winners, Alexandra Henderson ’23 MM (soprano) claimed victory in the Boston District, while Ruoxi Peng ’21, ’23 MM, ’24 GD (soprano) and Yihe Wang ’22 MM, ’23 GD (baritone) won in the Michigan District. Other alumni who excelled include Xijin Chen ’24 MM in the Florida District, Yuxin Liu ’23 MM in the Arkansas District, Chihiro Asano ’22 MM, ’23 GD in the Iowa District, and Sophia Grace Donelan ’23 and Colin Miller '24 in the Houston District.

The regional rounds will determine which singers advance to the National Semifinals at the Metropolitan Opera on March 9. Alexandra Henderson represented the New England Region on January 26 at NEC’s Jordan Hall, while Ruoxi Peng and Yihe Wang competed in the Great Lakes Region on January 25 in Detroit. The journey will culminate in the Grand Finals Concert on March 16, where finalists will perform with the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra on one of the world’s most renowned stages.

NEC alumni have a strong legacy in the competition. In 2023, tenor Anthony León ’21 MM won the competition, and tenor Yuntong Han ’21 was a finalist. Soprano Erica Petrocelli ’14, ’16 MM, ’18 AD reached the semifinals in 2018 and became a finalist in 2021. As this year’s talented alumni continue their journey, they carry forward NEC’s tradition of excellence in the operatic world.