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