By Alabama Public Radio
Huntsville, AL – A Huntsville Soprano is one of four rising young opera singers who survived a competition to get the first chance to sing on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera House accompanied by a full orchestra. Susan Phillips and eight others were the best among 1,500 would-be stars who entered the Met National Council's 51st annual auditions. Each of those nine finalists had a chance Sunday to sing two arias. Four winners, including Phillips, were then chosen by a panel of judges. Judges said Phillips has a generous lyric soprano. The four winners will each get $15,000 toward their studies.