Arts briefs

Six singers advance in Met honors

Six young singers have advanced to the Metropolitan Opera National Council's regional auditions, after their winning performances at the district auditions at Benaroya Hall's Nordstrom Recital Hall Oct. 20. The six, who led a field of 25 contenders, each won $800: baritone David Lara (of Seattle), soprano Clara Rottsolk (Philadelphia), soprano Rachel Anne Moore (Bloomington, Ind.), baritone Michael Anthony McGee (Seattle), mezzo-soprano Margaret Gawrysiak (Seattle) and mezzo-soprano Elizabeth Pojanowski (Ramsey, N.J.). Next up: the regional auditions, 1 p.m. Jan. 27, in Meany Theater at the University of Washington.

Judges for the auditions were Vera Calabria, Gayletha Nichols and Andrew Wentzel. The pianist was David McDade. Encouragement Awards in the amount of $500 each were awarded to soprano Megan Chenovick (Bellevue) and soprano Megan Hart (Seattle).

Details: www.nwauditions.com.

New head for Washington arts

Mary Langholz, a 25-year veteran in the fields of arts and public relations, has been named executive director of the Washington State Arts Alliance and Washington State Arts Foundation, beginning Nov. 1. Her previous experience includes work in the education division of McGraw-Hill Companies; Seattle Symphony, as director of public relations; Ruth Eckerd Hall Performing Arts Center, Clearwater, Fla., as director of communications; public relations consulting, Northwest Mahler Orchestra; and public relations, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, Washington, D.C. For more information: www.wsartsalliance.com.

Melinda Bargreen,

Seattle Times music critic