The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions are adding a new country to its audition process.

Executive director Melissa Wegner announced that Mexico will become part of The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions firmament joining the United States and Canada.

In a press statement, Wegner stated, “We are proud to include Mexico in the National Council Auditions. Our program now reflects artists and training in of all North America.”

With the new inclusion, the Council has selected San Miguel de Allende as a District venue and is partnering with San Miguel’s Pro Musica, which has been bringing world-class classical music to the historic city for two decades. Promising young opera singers from all over Mexico will attend the Nov. 8 auditions and be heard by representatives of The Metropolitan Opera. On Saturday, Nov. 10, a MONCA/Mexico Winners Concert will be presented in San Miguel to the public.

The Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions were established in 1954 and have since given discovered many great singers including Renée Fleming, Susan Graham, Teresa Stratas, Grace Bumbry, Ben Heppner, Thomas Hampson, Lawrence Brownlee, Lisette Oropesa, and Nadine Sierra. More recently Samantha Hankey, Vanessa Vasquez, and Jakub Józef Orliński won and have become rising stars in the opera world.