The Atlanta Opera has announced the finalists for its 96-Hour Opera Festival this June 16 – 22, 2025.

This year’s teams include Rebecca Gray and Rachel Gray; Gillian Rae Perry and Mo Holmes;
Daniel Reza Sabzghabaei and Ashlee Haze; Dina Pruzhansky and Hai-Ting Chinn; and Iván Enrique Rodríguez and Laura Barati.

Contestants will get 96 hours to create and present a new 10-minute opera. They will compete for a $10,000 award and a $25,000 commission to create a new chamber work for the next festival.

“Since its inception 4 years ago, the 96-Hour Opera Festival has grown to be one of the flagships of The Atlanta Opera,”said Tomer Zvulun, the Carl W. Knobloch, Jr. General and Artistic Director of The Atlanta Opera, per an official press statement. “Over a relatively short period, this project has introduced us to bold, new creatives whose passion for storytelling has brought important new works to life. This program provides a supportive infrastructure for these fresh voices to be heard. We are energized by the work and the artists headed our way in the coming months and are looking forward to a great festival.”

Also on the program for June 20 and 22 is the world premiere of David Ragland and Selda Sahin’s “Steele Roots,” which won the 2023 competition. It is based on the life of Carrie Steele Logan, a formerly enslaved woman who spent her life helping needy children in Atlanta, GA. There will also be a preview of last year’s winner, “Water Memory” by Kitty Brazelton and Vaibu Mohan, on June 21, which is the same event during which the finalists will present their competition entries.

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