The Anita Cerquetti International Opera Competition of Montecosaro, Italy, in association with Career Bridges, Inc. of New York City, has announced their audition winners who will take part in the April 2017 Anita Cerquetti International Opera Competition.

The auditions were held on December 9 and 10 at Manhattan’s Ripley-Grier Studios. Judges were Cerquetti competition director Maestro Alfredo Sorichetti, Career Bridges directors David and Barbara Bender, arts consultant Jeffrey James, mezzo soprano Jane Shaulis, soprano Patricia Sheridan, soprano Jane Thorngren, stage director Marc Verzatt and conductor Mara Waldman.

There were two first place winners.

1. Tenor Fanyang Du (shown with jury)

2. Soprano Teresa Castillo

And a third place winner, baritone Lawson Anderson.

No second place was awarded. All three winners will be traveling this coming April to Montecosaro, Italy for the Cerquetti Competition Finals.

The Anita Cerquetti Competition (http://www.accademiacerquetti.it/) will announce 3 winners: the first place winner will be awarded a paid concert with the Sanremo Symphony plus a prize of €1000; the second place winner will be awarded a paid concert with orchestra plus a prize of €600; and the third place winner will be awarded a paid concert with orchestra plus a prize of €400. In addition, the “Sanremo Symphony Special Prize,” a debut with the Sanremo Symphony, will be awarded by the jury in accordance with the artistic director of the Sanremo Symphony.

The first place winner will be invited to sing in the Career Bridges 15th Annual Gala concert and dinner on May 9, 2017, at the Essex House in New York before a distinguished audience of music lovers and experts in music. Career Bridges will help arrange contacts to leading agents and conductors before the arrival of the winner. Visit them at http://careerbridges.org/.