Véronique Filloux, Blake Denson, Fernando Cisneros Win Top Prizes at Zenith Opera Competition 2022

By David Salazar

The Zenith Opera Competition has unveiled the winners of its 2022 edition.

Taking home first prize and $2,500 was French-American soprano Véronique Filloux. In second place was U.S. baritone Blake Denson, who will obtain a $1,500 cast prize. And rounding out the trio of winners was Mexican baritone Fernando Cisneros, who will get a $750 cash award.

In addition to the Zenith Opera Competition win, Filloux has also taken home top prizes at such competitions as the Mildred Miller Vocal Competition, the Camille Coloratura Competition, the Orpheus Vocal Competition, and the Annapolis Opera Competition. She has appeared with such companies as Opera Lafayette, Des Moines Metro Opera, Salt Marsh Opera, Washington Concert Opera, and Pittsburgh Opera, among others. She is set to debut with Arizona Opera and the Berkshire Opera Festival.

“It is an honor to be the winner of this year’s Zenith Opera Competition,” Filloux told OperaWire. “I am grateful to have performed for an esteemed panel of leaders and casting directors from excellent opera houses across the world. Making initial connections with so many international industry leaders is a rare and exciting opportunity for young professionals, and I am so grateful to the ZOC team for bringing them together!”

Denson is set to make his debut at the Bayerische Staatsoper in 2022-23 as well as the Hamburg Staatsoper, English National Opera, and Washington National Opera.

“It means a lot to me to be able to participate in a competition like this for multiple reasons,” Denson told OperaWire. “It gave me the opportunity to re-sing for people that I’ve sung for before and allow them to see the growth that has been made over time. Also, this competition continues to give me a platform to be visible at such an important time in my career. I am really starting to break out in the world of opera as I just ended my time as a young artist and my time in competitions.”

Cisneros has recently debuted or performed with such companies as OSUANL,  La Versiliana Festival, and Teatro Riccardo Zandonai Rovereto, among others. He made his Carnegie Hall debut in 2018.

“I am very happy to have won this award,” the Mexican baritone told OperaWire. “I know I am moving in the right direction since top level artistic directors and casting managers from around the globe are part of the judging panel. Competitions are important for young singers because they give you exposure, you receive valuable feedback, and you are able to grow your artistic and professional network.”

The jury for the final round was comprised of Joan Matabosch (Artistic Director at Teatro Real), David Lomeli (Chief Artistic Office at Santa Fe Opera, Artistic Coordinator at Dallas Opera, and Casting Consultant at the Bayerische Staatsoper), Cornelia Preissinger (Deputy Artistic Director and Casting Director at Oper Leipzig), Boris Ignatov (Oper Stuttgart Casting Director), and Paul Hopper (Associate Artistic Administrator at The Metropolitan Opera).

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