The program includes top row, Nathan Bowles, Sujin Choi, Vinícius Costa, Emily Damasco and Julian Garvue, and bottom row, Yuntong Han, Hyungjin Son, Katie Trigg, Gabrielle Turgeon and Gabrielė Žemaitytė. (photo courtesy of LA Opera)

LA Opera has announced members of the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program for the 2025-26 season.

Two of the three new members joining the program are singers and one is a pianist and coach. Soprano Emily Damasco and mezzo-soprano Katie Trigg were chosen from more than 800 applicants. Preliminary auditions took place in New York, Cincinnati and Los Angeles. The finalists auditioned in Los Angeles in spring for a panel that included president and CEO Christopher Koelsch; music director James Conlon; Susan Graham, the program’s artistic advisor; Paul Hopper, senior director of artistic planning; Blair Salter, head coach for the program; and Stephen King, head of vocal instruction.

Pianist and coach Gabrielė Žemaitytė was chosen by an audition panel that included Conlon, Hopper and Salter as well as Jeremy Frank, the company’s chorus director who is also a coach for the Young Artist Program.

Seven current members of the program will return for a second season with the company: soprano Gabrielle Turgeon, tenors Nathan Bowles and Yuntong Han, baritone Hyungjin Son, bass Vinícius Costa and pianist-coaches Sujin Choi and Julian Garvue. Members of the program will be featured in LA Opera’s mainstage productions and other performances throughout the season.

“The Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program is widely recognized as one of the premier training programs for emerging operatic talent, with alumni performing on many of the world’s most important stages,” Koelsch said. “The program provides an exceptionally supportive and inspiring environment in which young artists can flourish, offering meaningful opportunities for artistic growth and close collaboration with singers, conductors, directors and coaches of the highest caliber. We are honored to support the development of the next generation of deeply communicative and expressive artists and look forward to experiencing their contributions throughout the coming season.”

Inaugurated during the 2006-07 season, the Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist Program develops the talents of exceptionally gifted young artists. LA Opera provides extensive training for singers and pianists who are transitioning from academic training to a professional career in opera. During a two-year paid residency, artists are given opportunities to further develop skills through mainstage roles, as principal artists’ covers and in dedicated young artist concerts and productions.

For information, visit laopera. org/young-artists.