National Council Auditions

Alumni

Following the creation of the Met's National Council in the 1952-53 season, the first Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions took place in 1954 in the Twin Cities. Over the past 60 years, the annual competition has helped launch the careers of countless young singers, including some of opera's greatest stars. Every season, approximately 100 former participants in the National Council Auditions appear on the Met roster.

A list of notable alumni from each decade appears below. A complete overview of all winners by year can be found here.

	Stephanie Blythe, 1994
	Renée Fleming, 1988
	Susan Graham, 1988
	Ben Heppner, 1988
	Patricia Racette, 1988
	Deborah Voigt, 1985
	Thomas Hampson, 1981
	Samuel Ramey, 1972
	Frederica von Stade, 1969
	1950s Martina Arroyo Grace Bumbry Teresa Stratas   1960s Robert Hale Jessye Norman Gail Robinson George Shirley Frederica von Stade Benita Valente Shirley Verrett   1970s June Anderson Kathleen Battle Vinson Cole Eric Halfvarson Ashley Putnam Samuel Ramey Cheryl Studer Carol Vaness Christine Weidinger Delores Ziegler   1980s Christine Brewer Renée Fleming Susan Graham Denyce Graves Thomas Hampson Ben Heppner Hei Kyung Hong Sylvia McNair Patricia Racette Ruth Ann Swenson Deborah Voigt   1990s Brian Asawa Isabel Bayrakdarian Stephanie Blythe Eric Cutler Michelle DeYoung Elizabeth Futral Jill Grove Paul Groves Nathan Gunn Olga Makarina Eric Owens Sondra Radvanovsky   2000s Meredith Arwady Jennifer Black Lawrence Brownlee Nicole Cabell Sarah Coburn Kate Lindsey Michael Maniaci Angela Meade Simon O’Neill Marjorie Owens Susanna Phillips Charles Edwin Taylor