Opera Modesto

The Kristina Townsend Memorial Vocal Competition honors the memory of Kristina Townsend, daughter of Opera Modesto founder Buck Townsend and his wife Erika. The competition is designed to encourage and inspire emerging talented young singers in her name. Each winner receives a cash prize and the possibility of performance opportunities with Opera Modesto in the course of the next year.

This year’s competition was conducted completely online with all video submissions.

Announcing the 2021 Winners

First Place

  • Luca Mitchell
    photo: Mary Welsh
  • Elyse Coty
    photo: E. Coty
  • Amanda Britt
    photo: A. Britt

Luca Mitchell

Elyse Coty

Amanda Britt

16-19 First Place Winner – Luca Mitchell, tenor, is a resident of Riverbank, CA. He is currently a Sophomore, attending CSU Stanislaus in the music program as a vocal performance major.

20-22 First Place Winner – Elyse Coty, mezzo-soprano, is a native of Santa Cruz CA. She currently is a voice performance student of Burr C. Phillips at
University of the Pacific.

23-26 First Place Winner – Amanda Britt is a native of Redding, California. She is currently a voice student of Dr. Robin Fisher at CSU Sacramento as a Classical Vocal Performance major

Hear the winners!

Complete List of Winners

16 – 19 Age Category
1st place – Luca Mitchell, Tenor (Riverbank, CSU Stanislaus Student)
2nd place – Abner Arias, Tenor (Stockton, Stockton Accelerated Institute of Learning Student)
Encouragement – Shaleiyah Russell, Soprano (Modesto, Modesto Junior College Student)
20 – 22 Age Category
1st place – Elyse Coty, Mezzo-Soprano (Santa Cruz, UOP Student)
2nd place – Sophia Silvers, Soprano (Sacramento, CSU Sacramento Student)
3rd place – Zoey Turney, Soprano (Kerman, CSU Fresno Student)
23 – 26 Age Category
1st place – Amanda Britt, Soprano (Redding, CSU Sacramento Student)
2nd place – Mc Jefferson Agloro, Baritone (Rancho Cordova, American River College Student)
Honorable Mention – Jonathon Saatman, Tenor (Sacramento, CSU Sacramento Student)
Encouragement – Merrissa Brambila, Soprano (Modesto, Modesto Junior College Student)

Judges: Opera Modesto Music Director – Ryan Murray, Opera Modesto Artistic Consultant – Annalisa Winberg, Opera Modesto Assistant Conductor/Chorus Director – Liisa Dávila, and Composer/CSU Stanislaus Professor – Dr. Deborah Kavasch.