Hope College junior Danielle Meyer of Dearborn won third place in Division I, the division for college juniors and seniors, during the final round of this year’s Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Competition, held on Sunday, April 6, at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center in Grand Rapids.

Meyer was one of three finalists competing in the division after advancing during the event’s semi-final round on Friday, Feb. 28, also at the Betty Van Andel Opera Center.

Sophomore Rosemary Walsh of Evanston, Ill., was previously named the first-place winner in Division II, the division for college freshmen and sophomores, during the Friday, Feb. 28, round.  As the Division II first-place winner, she performed and accepted her award during the April 6 event.

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.

Both Meyer and Walsh were featured soloists during the college’s Musical Showcase concert held at DeVos Hall in Grand Rapids on Monday, March 3.  Both also received Distinguished Artist Awards from Hope as incoming freshmen, and have participated in Hope vocal ensembles including the Chapel Choir, Women’s Chorus and College Chorus.

Walsh is a vocal music performance major.  Her activities at Hope also include the Kappa Beta Phi (Dorian) sorority and the Nykerk Cup competition.  She is a 2012 graduate of Evanston Township High School, and the daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth Walsh of Evanston.

Meyer is a psychology and biology major who is minoring in neuroscience.  Her activities at the college have also included participating in cognitive and linguistic psychology research, and the Club Animalia student organization.  She is a 2011 graduate of Lutheran High School Westland and the daughter of Daniel and Kelly Meyer of Dearborn.

Hope students won the Opera Grand Rapids Collegiate Competition in both 2011 and 2012, and placed third in 2013.