Sigma Alpha Iota

Summer 2019 10 PAN PIPES INTERVIEW An Interview with SAI's Melissa Wegner Her role in The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Summer 2019 PAN PIPES 10 By Stephanie Riley E ach year, e Metropolitan Opera holds its very well known National Council Auditions. ousands of singers prepare to compete and show off the best of their voice as well as the potential that they have to contribute to the opera world at large. Countless hours are spent practicing, preparing, listening, experimenting, coaching, dissecting, and scrutinizing all in the hopes that their first audition will get them to the next round. ey hope to repeat the process over as many times as necessary in order to make it to the finals, and eventually be named a winner. On the other side of the stage, is a team of musicians and artists who prepare to hear these singers and bring forth to the opera community those who they think are the next generation of opera. Behind the scenes is a very fascinating place to be, and SAI's own Melissa Wegner is the Executive Director of e Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Melissa has graciously offered of her time to give us a glimpse and understanding of how these auditions work, before, during, and aer, as well as how she found her way to her position today. How did you become interested in a career in the Performing Arts? Was there a defining moment, experience, or person(s) that helped to shape this path? My mom started me on Suzuki violin when I was very young and I started singing in a children's choir when I was about 8. ose two things started me on the path of music and not only did I love it, but I also was able to travel to foreign countries, meet other musicians, and connect intellectually with the art form. I had great experiences in musicals and had some wonderful teachers as well. When it was time

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