darrell babidge

Mary Hoskins chosen as second place winner for Classical Emerging Professional category

BYU student Jonah Hoskins sang his way into $20,000 and a winner of the 2020 Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions this weekend, one of the most prestigious opera competitions for young adults. Held at the legendary Metropolitan Opera House in New York City, Hoskins was one of five performers to win the prestigious award. This year’s finalists were chosen from more than 1,000 singers across North America. He sang “Ah! Mes amis” followed by “Si ritrovarla”with accompaniment from the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. “Winning this competition totally changes everything for me in this career,” Hoskins said. “It’s a huge opportunity and gives you amazing exposure to all the big opera houses in the country.” Hoskins, a senior majoring in vocal performance, has studied with BYU vocal performance professor Robert Brandt. Read the full story by Aaron Sorenson at news.byu.edu.

After being named one of the youngest winners in the history of the Metropolitan Opera National Council competition at the age of 21, BYU student Rebecca Pedersen began a prestigious operatic career. Although she has partial hearing loss and did not have any formal training until five years ago, Pedersen has now performed at The Met, Lincoln Center, and other acclaimed venues. Her mentor, BYU music professor Darrell Babidge, believed in her potential from the beginning and says the hard-working opera singer (a 2016 graduate of the BYU School of Music) is on her way to an international career.

The prestigious Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute selects only a handful of gifted young opera singers out of hundreds of applicants to receive private coaching, attend workshops and take part in master classes. This year, they have selected Brigham Young University master student in vocal performance, Dru Daniels, who has been chosen to participate in 'The Song Continues.' She will share the stage with the famed voices of Marilyn Horne, Stephanie Blythe and Sir Thomas Allen. Much of Daniels’ successful path to Carnegie can be traced back to the vocal training she received from faculty at BYU. One teacher, assistant professor of voice, Darrell Babidge, had his own Carnegie debut in 2004 and understood what Daniels would have to do to be ready for this program. “Dru has come a long way,” said Babidge. When she first arrived she had a few holes in her technique, and I have seen her work very hard to hone and polish these skills.” Babidge continues to train and work with students and alumni frequently. He assisted student, Rebecca Pederson as the second youngest ever to win the Metropolitan Opera Competition in 2013. Babidge understands the excellence of the Carnegie Hall program the intensive physical preparations one needs to sing, but he is confident in Daniels’ ability to perform. “Dru has worked really hard to get to this point,” said Babidge. “The week residency at Carnegie Hall will test her vocal and acting prowess, which she has learned so well at BYU.” While at BYU, Daniels has participated in several BYU productions including her performances as Ruth in Pirates of Penzance, the Witch in Hansel and Gretel and as Manon in the double-cast opera Manon. Daniels’ will be at Carnegie Hall January 18-23 in 2016.

His first week teaching full time at BYU, opera baritone and associate music professor Darrell G. Babidge (MM ’99) worried he might feel claustrophobic. As a performer, his voice had taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, Carnegie Hall, and other renowned stages.