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


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.




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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


and to our Rollins Department of Music faculty sponsors and volunteers

John Grau

Caitlin Mohr

Sherry Orr