Metropolitan Opera Laffont Competition Florida District

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Judges and Directors ​​

2025-2026 Season 

Judges​​

William Burden, Metropolitan Opera singer, Voice faculty The Juilliard School and Mannes School of Music

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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

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​Pianist

Our official Florida District pianist for the November 2025 Laffont Competition is

Nathan Cicero​, Chorus Master, Opera Orlando.

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​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

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and to our Rollins Department of Music faculty sponsors and volunteers

John Grau

Caitlin Mohr

Sherry Orr