Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Florida District
Judges
William Burden, Metropolitan Opera singer, Voice faculty The Juilliard School and Mannes School of Music
Priti Gandhi, Arts administrator, Casting advisor, Singer career coach
Nino Sanikidze, Coach/conductor, Shepherd School of Music at Rice University, Music Academy of the West, Lehrer Vocal Institute Studio Artists
Pianist
Our official Florida District pianist for the November 2025 Laffont Competition is
Nathan Cicero, Chorus Master, Opera Orlando.
District Leaders
Swantje Knye-Levin, District Director
Joan Travis, Auditions Manager
Kathy Cressey, Treasurer
Competition Volunteers
Many thanks to
Karen Evans
Fran Falcone
Claire Hodge
Carol Meijer
Thomas Potter
Sarah Purser Bojorquez
Melissa Ramb
Judith Topper
Harry Travis
Blanche Williams
and to our Rollins Department of Music faculty sponsors and volunteers
John Grau
Caitlin Mohr
Sherry Orr