Winners of Dean's Aria Competition to Perform in Opera Gala
November 12, 2025
The LSU School of Music is pleased to announce the six winner's of the inaugural Dean's Aria Competition put on by the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera. The six individuals were selected from a field of twenty-two extremely talented singers who participated and put on display unmatched talent, heart, and artistry. The winner's of the Dean's Aria Competition will be featured performers in the La-La-Palooza Lagniappe Gala on Friday, November 21st at 7:30pm in the CMDA's Shaver Theatre. The gala will by conducted by Alissa Rowe and Michael Borowitz and directed by Dugg McDonough.
The La-La-Palooza Lagniappe Gala will be an exciting spectacle for fans of opera and classical music alike to witness as the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera presents a evening of vocal brilliance comprised of scenes from some of the world's most beloved operas. Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased by clicking here.
Meet the Dean's Aria Competition Winners
(Winners Listed Alphabetically)
Nicholas Dieux
Baritone
Baritone Nicholas Dieux who hails from Orlando, Florida is currently pursuing his Master of Music in Vocal Performance at LSU, studying with Dennis Jesse. He obtained his Bachelor's Degree from Stetson University. He has appeared in productions such as Verdi's Macbeth and Requiem along with performing internationally as Papageno in Mozart's Die Zauberflöte. This season, he sang the title role in the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera's production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro and has also performed as Marullo in the Vero Beach Opera's production of Verdi's Rigoletto
Cristina Escobedo
Soprano
Cristina Escobedo, a soprano from Lima, Peru, is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Music degree in Vocal Performance at LSU where she currently studies under Robert Grayson and Paul Groves. Since relocating to the United States, she has appeared as a soloist with numerous ensembles performing major works such as Messiah, Requiem for the Living, Fauré's Requiem, along with the leading roles of Giulia in Rossini's La scala di seta in Middlebury, CT and Adina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore with LSU's Turner-Fischer Center for Opera. She most recently performed the role of Countess Almaviva in the Turner-Fischer Center's fall production of Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro.
Maddy Manning-Bi
Mezzo-Soprano
Maddy Manning-Bi, a mezzo-soprano who completed her undergraduate work at Columbia University in the City of New York, currently is pursuing her Masters of Music in Vocal Performance at LSU under the tutelage of Sandra Moon. Maddy has received numerious awards and scholarships for her performances that have enabled her to study internationally in places such as Salzburg, Austria and Avezzano, Italy. Maddy was also invited to attend the Sewanee Summer Music Festival's OperaFest as a scholarship recipient. Maddy has performed in numerous new words for opera in New York City along with appearing in a special performance for WKCR 98.3FM's Saturday Night at the Opera program. She most recently served as a cover for the role of Cherubino in the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera's fall production of Le Nozze di Figaro.
Sarah McHan
Soprano
Soprano Sarah McHan is currently in the first-year of her Master of Music degree in Vocal Performance at LSU studying under Lindsay Kate Brown. Prior to her studies in Louisiana, Sarah received her B.M. from Georgia Southern University. An accomplished performer, Sarah has won numerous awards and performed in leading roles with numerous respected opera companies. This past spring, sarah spent her time singing the role of the Queen of the Night over 100 times in the The Atlanta Opera Studio's tour production of The Magic Flute. She reprised that role over the summer with the Janiec Opera Company of the Brevard Music Center. In September of 2025, Sarah made her debut with Opéra Louisiane in a coloratura trio concert entitled "Over the Top!". Other roles have included Amy March in Little Women, Johanna in Sweeney Todd, and Sister Constance in Dialogues of the Carmelites.
Grace McMahon
Soprano
A light, lyric soprano that originally hails from Wisconsin is currently a second-year masters student at LSU. She currently serves in a graduate assistantship, studying under Professor Sandra Moon. Grace most recently appeared as Susanna in the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera's production of Le Nozze di Figaro. She has also appeared as Nannetta in Verdi's Falstaff, Cunegonde in Bernstein's Candide, Adina in Donizetti's L'elisir d'amore, Suor Genovieffa in Puccini's Suor Angelica, Adele in Strauss' Die Fledermaus, and Beth in Mark Adamo's Little Women.
Brett Ochoa
Tenor
Brett is a first-year Master's Student in Vocal Performance at LSU in the studio of Robert Grayson and Paul Groves. Prior to beginning studies here in Louisiana, Brett earned his Bachelors degree from Georgia Southern University in Vocal Performance. Brett has had key roles as a soloist in Mendelssohn's Elijah, Handel's Messiah, and Johnson's Song of Hope. Brett also made his Carnegie Hall debut with select choirs in Johnson's Song of Hope in 2024. Ochoa has also performed in numerous and varied opera roles including Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, Rodolfo in La bohéme, and Le Chevalier de la Force in Dialogues of the Carmelites. Brett has been recognized for his outstanding work having awarded First Place in the National Association of Teachers of Singing National Student Auditions in his category this past summer to add to his other accolades.
The La-La-Palooza Lagniappe Gala
You can catch all these wonderful and talented competition winners, numerous other members of the Turner-Fischer Center for Opera, and the acclaimed LSU A Cappella Choir in the La-La-Palooza Lagniappe Gala. A concert that will showcase the talent and artistry of LSU's most outstanding vocal students in scenes from some of Opera's most beloved works.
Event Details
Date/Time: Friday, November 21st at 7:30pm
Location: Shaver Theatre
Artistic Team: Conductors Alissa Rowe & Michael Borowitz; Director Dugg McDonough
Program Highlights
- The Act II Sextet from Mozart's Don Giovanni
- "Ah! lève-toi, soleil!" from Gounod's Roméo et Juliette
- "Gira la cote from Puccini's Turandot
- The Act I Trio from Strauss' Die Fledermaus
- "Qui la voce sua soave" from Bellini's I Puritani
- "Va, pensiero" from Verdi's Nabucco
- "À vos yeux, mes amis" from Thomas' Hamlet
- The Act III Quartet from Puccini's La bohème
- "Sul fil d'un soffio estesio" from Verdi's Falstaff
- The Finale of Act I in Rossini's Il Viaggio a Reims
Tickets and Information
Tickets and additional event information is available through the CMDA box office at the button below. For any media inquiries, please contact the School of Music communications team. Info below.