The Atlanta Opera has announced the teams that will comprise its 96-Hour Opera Project, a composition showcase and competition where teams of composers and librettists create completely new 10-minute operas.

The finals, held on June 20^th, will be held at the Ray Charles Performing Arts Center at Morehouse College School of Music. The teams are: composer Johanny Navarro and librettist Deborah Mouton; Marcus Norris and Adamma Ebo; Jorge Sosa and Alejandra Martinez; Carlos Castro and Diana Solomon-Glover; Roydon Tse and Marcus Yi; and Saman Shahi and Isabella Dawis.

The judge’s panel is comprised of prominent industry figures such as Portland Opera Artistic Direct Priti Ganchi, librettist Andrea Davis Pinkney, Houston Grand Opera’s new General Director Khori Dastoor, acclaimed bass Morris Robinson, composer Kevin Puts, and choreographer Donald Byrd.

“The level of talent here is stunning,” says Robinson, who also serves as an advisor for the project. “I cannot wait to hear and see what they prepare over the coming months. Projects like these are necessary to balance the playing field, while simultaneously shining a light on new talent and new literature for opera.”