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Mexico has an extraordinary national resource in its exceptionally talented young opera singers. However, with limited professional opportunities in Mexico, even the most gifted face significant barriers to building the international careers they seek. That began to change in 2018 when Mexico hosted its first Metropolitan Opera competition for young singers to expand the Met’s decades-long search for the world’s most promising operatic talent.
Come to Rotary Tuesday, September 8, at 9:30 a.m. in the Biblioteca’s Sala Quetzal when Executive Director/President Emerita Joan Mitchell of the San Miguel MetOpera Trust will provide an opportunity to explore Mexico’s remarkable vocal talent, the challenges young singers face in building professional careers, and the importance of access to international opportunities. Mitchell will be accompanied by a singer who won the MetOpera young artists competition. This presentation will show how the San Miguel MetOpera Trust is helping create access to professional, international opportunities, and is producing impressive, measurable results. Since the competition came to Mexico, 460 young Mexican singers have been heard by MetOpera-certified judges, 39 have received support to audition in the United States, and four have reached the Metropolitan Opera stage as national competition winners. Mitchell will highlight how the public may help open doors for the next generation of extraordinary Mexican artists. “The work is about more than discovering extraordinary voices. It is about creating life-changing opportunities for young Mexican artists, and supporting Mexico's remarkable operatic talent as it takes its place on the world’s stages,” said Mitchell. She has combined a lifelong love of opera with a career devoted to education, philanthropy, and the arts. An opera lover since the age of 10, Mitchell was introduced to the art form by a beloved uncle who took her to the Metropolitan Opera for the first time when she was 14. Decades later, that early passion led to work that has opened doors for hundreds of talented young Mexican singers, which led to a career spanning higher education, administration, and fundraising. Mitchell taught French to students to elementary, middle school and university students. Mitchell later held senior advancement positions at Georgetown University, Marymount University of Virginia, and her alma mater, Wilson College. She holds degrees from Wilson College, Harvard University, and the University of Pittsburgh. In 2017, Mitchell became the founding director of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions—now the MetOpera Laffont Competition in Mexico. From 2019 to 2025, she served as founding president of the San Miguel MetOpera Trust. Under her leadership, dozens of professional opera aspirants have been placed in young artist training programs with distinguished opera companies in the United States and in Europe. Locally, Mitchell has applied her talents to several other nonprofit organizations, including Jovenes Adelante, Feed the Hungry and the San Miguel Instituto de Bel Canto. Our meetings take place in the Sala Quetzal in the Biblioteca Pública, which opens at 8:15 a.m. via the Relox entrance near Insurgentes. Cafe Zenteno serves breakfast before the meeting for $150 MXN in cash.
If you would prefer to view the meeting via ZOOM, complete the form below and we will send you the link. Rotary is where neighbors, friends and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change. For more information, contact President José de Anda at [email protected] or Vice President of Club Services Robin Loving at [email protected]. |
Do you have a question?Upcoming SpeakersSeptember 15: Tina Beuche, The Art of the Story September 22: Jesus Ibarra, Mexican Movies September 29: Melisa Berrones, Strengthening Family Bonds for the Community |
Rotary Club of San Miguel de Allende-Midday
Club 70057 - Rotary District 4140
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Club 70057 - Rotary District 4140
San Miguel de Allende, Mexico