The Houston Grand Opera has selected the finalists for the 31st annual Eleanor McCollum Competition for Young Singers Concert of Arias.

This year’s finalists are Sopranos Anna Dugan, Yunuet Laguna, Elena Villalón, mezzo-soprano Katherine DeYoung, and tenor Angel Romero. Bass-baritone Nicholas Newton and Basses William Meinert and William Guanbo Su are also finalists.

This year, the competition received 525 applications from singers around the world. Fourteen semifinalists were chosen to come to Houston for further rounds of the prestigious competition.

The semifinalists were then narrowed down to the final eight.  The selected finalists will have the opportunity to learn more about HGO and work with HGO music staff leading up to the Concert of Arias.

During the finals, the competitor will have the chance to win up to $10,000 in cash prizes and will be accompanied by Kirill Kuzmin, HGO assistant conductor in two arias.

The judging panel will be led by HGO Artistic and Music Director Patrick Summers and HGO Managing Director Perryn Leech, with guest judge Lawrence Brownlee. Ana María Martínez will also select a finalist to receive her encouragement award, while audience members will also have the opportunity to participate and choose the Audience Choice Award.

The finals will be held on Feb. 1, 2019, and will be streamed live on Facebook and YouTube.