WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
BARBARA HENDRICKS
In 1967 Soprano, Barbara Hendricks entered the Nebraska District Met Auditions on a lark, and to her shock she took first place. Barbara grew up in Arkansas, came to Nebraska on scholarship and attended Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Nebraska, graduating with degrees in chemistry and mathematics. She sang in church choirs, but didn’t have her first voice lesson until college. After winning the auditions it was a quick ascent to a summer in Aspen, and to Juilliard to study with Jennie Tourel. She appeared in major opera houses, concert halls and did recordings. In 1986 she had her MET debut as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. She has lived in Europe for more than 35 years, currently living in Stockholm with her second husband. She has two grown children and grandchildren. Hendricks returned to Lincoln in the 1990s to give a concert in appreciation for the support given her during her time here. She has recently written her memoir Lifting My Voice, which is soon to be published. In 1987, Hendricks took on a major new role as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She also was the commencement speaker at UNL's Undergraduate Graduation Ceremony on May 9, 2015, where she spoke most fondly of her Nebraska District audition experience and the support she received from the Lincoln community.
CHARLES AUSTIN
Charles Austin won the Nebraska District Met Auditions in 1988 as a 34 year old bass-baritone. He won at a time when the age limit for men was 35. Austin is a Nebraska Native, having grown up in Seward Ne. He attended Hastings College and the University of Nebraska. He is a former Marine Corp officer and helicopter pilot. He is acclaimed as a Wagnerian singer. His operatic repertoire features over 100 roles. He has performed at the most important venues in North America, Europe and Asia. He has appeared with the Chicago Lyric, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Spoleto Festival in Italy , the Seattle and Dallas Symphonies, to name a few. He has done many recordings. He has appeared in supporting roles at the MET in New York.
ANDRIANA CHUCHMAN
Andriana Chuchman, Soprano, won the Nebraska District MET Auditions in 2007. She is a native of Winnipeg Canada, and drove by herself to appear in the Nebraska Auditions. Following that she spent several years with the Opera Theatre of Chicago. She is a graduate of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has appeared in concert with the Detroit Symphony, and has appeared at the Ravinia Festival as a guest on the Prairie Home Companion radio show. She made her debut at the MET in 2013 as Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore. This season she will appear at MET productions of Hansel and Gretal. She will appear with OPERA OMAHA on February 15 in A Flowering Tree. April - May 2015. Andriana returned to The Metropolitan Opera as Valencienne in the Met's new production of The Merry Widow, conducted by Fabio Luisi and directed by Susan Stroman. The critics praised her "sparkling" and "luminous" performance. In September - October 2015, Andriana will be making her LA Opera debut as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, with Placido Domingo as Gianni Schicchi, conducted by Grant Gershon and directed by Woody Allen.
THOMAS GUNTHER
Tom Gunther, Baritone, won the Nebraska District Auditions in 2010. He won the Kentucky District Auditions in 2012, where he is currently studying for his Doctorate. Gunther is a native of Muscatine, Iowa and attended the University of Nebraska where he earned a Master’s in Vocal Performance.
JENI HOUSER
Jeni Houser, Soprano, won the Nebraska District Met Auditions in 2011. She “sang and acted with finesse and charm” (Opera News, July 2013) in her Fort Worth Opera debut in 2013, performing Najade in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxosand covering Zerbinetta. After recent performances with the Dallas and the Los Angeles Opera, on January 2, 2020, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, singing the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute, covering the role for seven performances!
Patrick O'Halloran
Patrick O'Halloran, Tenor, won the Nebraska District Met Auditions in 2009. “With the chorus providing solid anchor, the requiem featured an exquisite quartet of soloists: . . . tenor Patrick O’Halloran, who sculpted beautiful lines and warm phrases . . . ” – The Washington Post “Catherine Martin used her mellow mezzo expressively as Mary, and tenor Patrick O’Halloran did stylish work as Joseph.” – Opera News
Meredith Wolgemuth
Meredith Wolgemuth competed in the Nebraska District during her undergraduate at Concordia University. In 2023 she was a Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Meredith has performed at Tanglewood, Carnegie Hall with Renee Fleming Songstudio Young Artist, and Concours musical interntional de Montreal where she won the Melodie Premier Prix. She has won prestigious grants and prizes as a rising star Opera and Art Song.
In 1967 Soprano, Barbara Hendricks entered the Nebraska District Met Auditions on a lark, and to her shock she took first place. Barbara grew up in Arkansas, came to Nebraska on scholarship and attended Nebraska Wesleyan and the University of Nebraska, graduating with degrees in chemistry and mathematics. She sang in church choirs, but didn’t have her first voice lesson until college. After winning the auditions it was a quick ascent to a summer in Aspen, and to Juilliard to study with Jennie Tourel. She appeared in major opera houses, concert halls and did recordings. In 1986 she had her MET debut as Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro. She has lived in Europe for more than 35 years, currently living in Stockholm with her second husband. She has two grown children and grandchildren. Hendricks returned to Lincoln in the 1990s to give a concert in appreciation for the support given her during her time here. She has recently written her memoir Lifting My Voice, which is soon to be published. In 1987, Hendricks took on a major new role as Goodwill Ambassador for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. She also was the commencement speaker at UNL's Undergraduate Graduation Ceremony on May 9, 2015, where she spoke most fondly of her Nebraska District audition experience and the support she received from the Lincoln community.
CHARLES AUSTIN
Charles Austin won the Nebraska District Met Auditions in 1988 as a 34 year old bass-baritone. He won at a time when the age limit for men was 35. Austin is a Nebraska Native, having grown up in Seward Ne. He attended Hastings College and the University of Nebraska. He is a former Marine Corp officer and helicopter pilot. He is acclaimed as a Wagnerian singer. His operatic repertoire features over 100 roles. He has performed at the most important venues in North America, Europe and Asia. He has appeared with the Chicago Lyric, San Francisco Opera, Santa Fe Opera, Spoleto Festival in Italy , the Seattle and Dallas Symphonies, to name a few. He has done many recordings. He has appeared in supporting roles at the MET in New York.
ANDRIANA CHUCHMAN
Andriana Chuchman, Soprano, won the Nebraska District MET Auditions in 2007. She is a native of Winnipeg Canada, and drove by herself to appear in the Nebraska Auditions. Following that she spent several years with the Opera Theatre of Chicago. She is a graduate of the Ryan Opera Center at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. She has appeared in concert with the Detroit Symphony, and has appeared at the Ravinia Festival as a guest on the Prairie Home Companion radio show. She made her debut at the MET in 2013 as Adina in L’Elisir d’Amore. This season she will appear at MET productions of Hansel and Gretal. She will appear with OPERA OMAHA on February 15 in A Flowering Tree. April - May 2015. Andriana returned to The Metropolitan Opera as Valencienne in the Met's new production of The Merry Widow, conducted by Fabio Luisi and directed by Susan Stroman. The critics praised her "sparkling" and "luminous" performance. In September - October 2015, Andriana will be making her LA Opera debut as Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi, with Placido Domingo as Gianni Schicchi, conducted by Grant Gershon and directed by Woody Allen.
THOMAS GUNTHER
Tom Gunther, Baritone, won the Nebraska District Auditions in 2010. He won the Kentucky District Auditions in 2012, where he is currently studying for his Doctorate. Gunther is a native of Muscatine, Iowa and attended the University of Nebraska where he earned a Master’s in Vocal Performance.
JENI HOUSER
Jeni Houser, Soprano, won the Nebraska District Met Auditions in 2011. She “sang and acted with finesse and charm” (Opera News, July 2013) in her Fort Worth Opera debut in 2013, performing Najade in Strauss’ Ariadne auf Naxosand covering Zerbinetta. After recent performances with the Dallas and the Los Angeles Opera, on January 2, 2020, she made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera, singing the Queen of the Night in Mozart's The Magic Flute, covering the role for seven performances!
Patrick O'Halloran
Patrick O'Halloran, Tenor, won the Nebraska District Met Auditions in 2009. “With the chorus providing solid anchor, the requiem featured an exquisite quartet of soloists: . . . tenor Patrick O’Halloran, who sculpted beautiful lines and warm phrases . . . ” – The Washington Post “Catherine Martin used her mellow mezzo expressively as Mary, and tenor Patrick O’Halloran did stylish work as Joseph.” – Opera News
Meredith Wolgemuth
Meredith Wolgemuth competed in the Nebraska District during her undergraduate at Concordia University. In 2023 she was a Grand Finals Winner of the Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition. Meredith has performed at Tanglewood, Carnegie Hall with Renee Fleming Songstudio Young Artist, and Concours musical interntional de Montreal where she won the Melodie Premier Prix. She has won prestigious grants and prizes as a rising star Opera and Art Song.