She’s only 21 and started singing just three years ago, but vocal performance student Rebecca Pedersen has already captured one of opera’s greatest prizes. Pedersen was recently named one of six winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. The competition is considered the most prestigious in North America for singers looking to launch an operatic career. “You go through a lot of stress and hardships and things that make you evaluate if you really want an opera career,” Pedersen said. “Now I have a little taste of what it would be like. I realize now that I’ve got a lot of work ahead of me before I can have that career, but I really do want that career.” In what was her first ever vocal competition, Pedersen became the second youngest winner in the 60-year history of the prestigious event. “It’s kind of like the super bowl of opera competitions,” said BYU vocal performance assistant professor Darrell Babidge. “The Metropolitan Opera is the biggest opera house in the country, one of the major opera houses in the world. Winning this competition really does mean that the company is invested in them for the future.” The journey to the Met started off with auditions in Salt Lake, then on to the next round in Denver and then to the New York semi finals and finals. In the end, it was Pederson finding her way to the winner’s podium out of a field of 1800 contestants. Pedersen took home a cash prize of $15,000 after her stirring performance of “Pleurez, pleurez mes yeux” from Jules Massenet’s 1885 opera “Le Cid.” Babidge said the original plan was just to go to the district round and get used to the concept of competition. “I knew that she could go far, but not that she would have this growth spurt in technique so quickly,” he said. “But every round she brought it to the table, got into the zone and did so well. It was a only a surprise as in it happened so quickly.” Opera companies swarmed Pedersen immediately after her performance in the semi finals with offers which would lure her away from her studies at BYU and immediately into an opera career. “As a singer you dream of the time when you go out and sing and everyone wants you,” Pedersen said. But still, Pedersen plans to continue her studies at BYU through graduation in 2015. With Pedersen still so new to singing, it’s taken some expert coaching from Babidge and his wife Jennifer Welch-Babidge to get her where she is today. “When she came to BYU, I knew she had a really great instrument, but there was a lot of polishing to do,” Babidge said. “In the past six months, she’s really come into her own. She’s worked really hard to get to this point.” Pedersen said she appreciates so much the help she’s received. “When I won, I looked at them and said, ‘We did it,’” Pedersen said. “It’s not just me. It’s been a real team effort.” The future looks bright for Pedersen. She and Babidge have been in talks with different summer programs, opera companies and even an agent. “She doesn’t need to rush anything,” Babidge said. “Usually people will do anything just to be heard by one opera company. So many people are interested in her.” While Pedersen is young and has so much ahead of her, she’s dealt with a lot in her life. She said because of different circumstances she’s faced, she had built up a lot of anger and became closed off to others around her. Her singing may be her ticket to the future, but it’s also been healing for her past. “I found singing as a release,” Pedersen said. “Ultimately it’s brought me closer to God and been healing. I’m able to share all of myself when I sing. I’m not good at doing that in my relationships, but in singing I can give, and I like that.” Source: BYU News

Three students--Alexis Flake, Taylor Lansford, and Lydia Defranchi--in the BYU broadcasting program have recently earned a national award known as the Gracie Award.

The much awaited Final Cut Film Festival will return to Brigham Young University's campus on Friday and Saturday, April 12—13. Each night of the festival will feature two programs at 6:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.

This past weekend BYU students have won three prestigious national music awards. Soprano Rebecca Pedersen, a sophomore at BYU, was selected as one of six winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, referred to by some as the “American Idol of opera,” on Sunday, March 10, in New York. The following day, pianist Conlan Miller and horn-player Spencer Park won first place in their divisions in the national finals of the Young Artist Performance Competition of the Music Teachers National Association. These win come on the wake of another success at the end of February, when BYU piano majors Hilary Heideman Mauler and Tiffany Winkel Delgado won first place in the United States International Duo Piano Competition in Colorado Springs. Kory Katseanes, director of the School of Music, was thrilled for the students, their families and their teachers. “I'm certain we've never had a semester of winners as we have seen this year. And it's not just the competition winners. Our many students who have been auditioning at various grad schools this spring have been met with overwhelming success,” said Katseanes. Pedersen is the latest in a line of BYU successes at the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. Lindsay (Robison) Killian was the first BYU student to win, in 2000, and was followed by Rachel Willis-SÁ¸rensen in 2010. Pedersen was also the youngest contestant this year in the semifinal and final rounds and is among the youngest winners ever in the competition’s 60 year history. Of her performance, The New York Times wrote that Pedersen was “a precociously polished 21-year-old soprano who sounded particularly alluring in ‘Stridono lassÁ¹’ from ‘Pagliacci.’” The Associated Press also praised her “polished technique and potent sound.” In addition to the $15,000 prize, winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions carries tremendous weight. As the Metropolitan Opera noted in its press release, given the reach of the auditions, the number of applicants, and the long tradition associated with them, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions are considered the most prestigious competition in North America for singers seeking to launch an operatic career. Regarding the MTNA National Finals, Katseanes described BYU’s winning two of the five competition divisions as “huge.” “It is a tremendous achievement,” said Katseanes. “For BYU to have two winners in tonight's concert shines spectacular light upon our institution.” Violinist Sara Bauman, student of Alexander Woods, also competed as one of seven finalists in the String Division. Press for Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions AP Press for MTNA National Young Artist Performance Competition MTNA Press Release

The Department of Visual Arts invites the students and faculty of the College of Fine Arts and Communications to attend a department-wide seminar featuring Israeli graphic designer Ronny Edry on March 14 at 11:00 a.m. in 2107 JKB.

The BYU Department of Theatre and Media Arts will host the well-renowned documentary filmmaker Ross McElwee this week, March 10—16. On Thursday, March 14, the public is invited to attend the film screening of “Photographic Memory” in the Nelke Theater at 7:30 p.m. On Friday, March 15, students and faculty of BYU are invited to attend McElwee’s guest lecture at 1:30 p.m. in F201 HFAC.

Brigham Young University’s Department of Theatre and Media Arts will present the classic comedy “The Servant of Two Masters’” in the Pardoe Theatre Wednesday, March 20 through Friday, April 5, including matinee performances on Saturdays.

Brigham Young University’s Department of Dance will present “Buckaroo: Cowboy Poetry in Motion” during the dancEnsemble winter concert Friday and Saturday, March 22-23, at 7:30 p.m. in the Richards Building Dance Studio Theatre. A special Buckaroo Ball Dance Party will be held after Friday night’s performance in 2006 Richards Building.

The Brigham Young University Chamber Orchestra will perform Thursday, March 21, at 7:30 p.m. in the de Jong Concert Hall.

Soprano Rebecca Pedersen, a sophomore at BYU, was selected as one of six winners of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions Sunday, March 10, in New York. Of her performance, The New York Times wrote that Pedersen was “a precociously polished 21-year-old soprano who sounded particularly alluring in ‘Stridono lassÁ¹’ from ‘Pagliacci.’” The Associated Press also praised her “polished technique and potent sound.” Pedersen had previously advanced through the Salt Lake locals, the Denver regionals and the New York semifinals. She was the youngest of the ten finalists selected from 1800 singers across the nation. In addition to the $15,000 prize, winning the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions carries tremendous weight. As the Metropolitan Opera noted in its press release, given the reach of the auditions, the number of applicants, and the long tradition associated with them, the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions are considered the most prestigious competition in North America for singers seeking to launch an operatic career. Many of the world’s foremost singers, among them Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Thomas Hampson, Ben Heppner, Jessye Norman, Samuel Ramey, Frederica von Stade, Deborah Voigt and Dolora Zajick have received awards from the National Council. Annually, approximately 100 former auditioners appear in Metropolitan Opera productions. Pedersen studies vocal performance with Darrell Babidge. She is also mentored by world-renowned mezzo-soprano Dolora Zajick and is a resident artist at the Institute for Young Dramatic Voices. Recent solo engagements have included concerts with the Utah Symphony, conducted by Thierry Fischer. Ms. Pedersen won the Utah Salute to Youth competition in 2010 and 2012. As a freshman, Rebecca won both the BYU Singer of the Year Award and the Concerto Competition, soloing with the BYU Symphony Orchestra. Ms. Pedersen also maintains a close working relationship with the Utah Lyric Opera Company, where she was cast in their recent productions of La Traviata and La Bohème. Roles include Fiordiligi (CosÁ¬ fan tutte) at BYU, and Genevieve (Suor Angelica) with Utah/Idaho Performing Arts Company. Photo: Metropolitan Opera

One of America’s most performed composers David Lang will visit BYU’s campus this week to present an Oscarson Lecture. During his visit he will meet with composition students and attend a performance of his Pulitzer Prize-winning piece “The Little Match Girl Passion.” The School of Music invites students and faculty in the College of Fine Arts and Communications to attend the following events: Group for New Music presents David Lang's The Little Match Girl Passion, and works by Knox, Xenakis, and Colquhoun Wednesday, March 13, 2013 7:30 p.m. Madsen Recital Hall Oscarson Lecture - Pulitzer Prize-winning Composer David Lang Thursday, March 14, 2013 11:00 a.m. Madsen Recital Hall David Lang lecture to Composition Seminar Thursday, March 14, 2013 3:00 p.m. E400 HFAC Mr. Lang's visit is supported by the Barlow Endowment Education Grant and the Oscarson Lecture Series. All admission is free. Photo: http://davidlangmusic.com/

BYU piano majors Hilary Heideman Mauler and Tiffany Winkel Delgado recently won first place in the United States International Duo Piano Competition (USIDPC) in Colorado Springs.