Cooper Bott is heading to Northwestern University this fall, and he is arriving with some hardware in tow.

The baritone from Marengo, Iowa recently took First Place at the Fifth Annual Schmidt Vocal Arts National Vocal Competition, held May 30 and 31 at the Sarasota Opera House in Sarasota, Florida. Bott earned the top prize of $10,000 after performing a program that ranged from Mozart to Fauré to Rodgers and Hammerstein.

OperaWire spoke with Bott about his winning program, his path to classical singing, and what awaits him at the Bienen School of Music.

OperaWire: Congrats on winning the Schmidt Vocal Arts National Vocal Competition? How do you feel?

Cooper Bott: It’s such an incredible honor to win the Schmidt Vocal Arts Competition and it was an absolutely surreal experience for me and my family. It was a culmination of years of hard work and commitment that has confirmed my belief that I belong in classical music and I can create a career for myself in this field. For anyone that is feeling that they don’t belong, know that there is always a place for you in whatever you choose to pursue.

OW: Tell me about the repertoire you picked for the competition and how you connect to this music?

CB: The three songs I picked for this competition were “Papageno’s Suicide Aria” from Mozart’s “Die Zauberflöte,” “Automne” by Gabriel Fauré, and “Some Enchanted Evening” by Rogers and Hammerstein. The suicide aria was such a fun song to prepare and perform, as it really allowed me to connect with a goofy character and emote in ways I hadn’t done before in classical singing. “Automne” is a piece I’ve performed prior to this competition and is such a beautiful yet haunting song about memories and the passing of time that I feel we can all relate to in some way. Finally, “Some Enchanted Evening” fully represents the soft spot I have in my heart for golden age musical theater, which contain some of my favorite songs to sing. All three of my pieces show a lot of different characters and emotions, which I enjoyed switching between and expressing on stage.

OW: What comes next for you? What excites you most about the next steps of your career?

CB: I’ll be attending Northwestern University this fall and pursuing a degree in vocal performance in the Bienen School of Music. My decision to attend Northwestern was heavily influenced by the extensive performance opportunities not only in the school, but also in the neighboring Chicago area. I’m beyond excited to grow and learn under so many talented and highly esteemed professors/teachers while in Bienen. I have so much to learn about classical singing and am thrilled to start my journey at such an incredible university.

OW: What inspired you to become a singer? Who are the artists that have inspired you?

CB: Singing and music have been a constant in my life from a young age. I’ve always loved how universal the language of music is and the way singing gives you an outlet to express yourself beyond the power of words. My parents started my performing journey and have always encouraged my sister and I to sing/perform whenever and wherever we could. I started taking voice lessons my freshman year of high school with Tad Ennen, who introduced to the world of classical singing and was huge reason why I decided to pursue a degree in vocal performance. In terms of specific artists, I look up to and take a lot of inspiration from singers like Joshua Henry and Michael Spyres, who I feel are doing incredible work right now and have some of the most beautiful voice in the world.

OW: Outside of music, what are some of your other interests?

CB: Outside of music, I love to play golf with friends and am a huge fan of Marvel Comics and the Marvel Cinematic Universe. I love keeping up with my favorite sport teams, the Iowa State Cyclones, Green Bay Packers, and the Houston Rockets, as well as the general sports world. I also love collecting Legos and comics, listening to podcasts, and watching YouTube, movies, and TV.