Hope College student Jenna Buck of Elburn, Ill., is one of nine finalists named in the Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Competition held on Friday, March 1, at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center in Grand Rapids.
She and the other finalists will compete in the final round scheduled for Sunday, April 14, at 7 p.m. at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center.
The Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Vocal Competition provides an opportunity for outstanding student vocalists being trained full-time at Greater Grand Rapids-area colleges and universities to compete in a professional competition and to be recognized for excellence by a professional opera company. The participating students are asked to perform two arias in differing styles, languages and composers from opera and/or operetta.
A total of 31 singers from Aquinas College, Calvin College, Cornerstone University, Grand Rapids Community College, Grand Valley State University, Hope and Western Michigan University competed in the March 1 event.
Buck, who is a 2012 Hope graduate and vocal music performance major who is continuing studies at the college, was also a finalist in the 2012 competition. Active in music performance throughout her time at Hope, she was a featured soloist during the college’s annual Concerto and Aria concert on Friday, Jan. 25, and Musical Showcase on Monday, March 4. In addition, this past November she placed second in the Advanced Men and Women category in the National Association of Teachers of Singing (NATS) Michigan State Chapter Auditions.
She is a 2008 graduate of Kaneland High School, and the daughter of Mark and Cathy Buck of Elburn. She studies voice at Hope with Linda LeFever Dykstra, who is an associate professor of music and chair of the voice division.
Hope seniors won the Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Competition in both 2011 and 2012. Brent Smith of Owosso won the 2012 competition, with Caitlin McDougall of Flint finishing second. Sarah Ashcroft of Holland won the 2011 competition.