October 28, 2026
AVA Resident Artists Joshua Berg and Dawson Franzino Named Philadelphia District Winners of the Met’s Laffont Competition
Academy of Vocal Arts (AVA) Resident Artists Joshua Berg, tenor, and Dawson Franzino, mezzo-soprano, have been named winners of the Philadelphia District of the Metropolitan Opera’s Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition.
The competition, formerly known as the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions, was established to identify promising young opera singers and support their professional development. District winners advance to the regional round, continuing through a competition process that provides emerging artists with opportunities to pursue careers in opera.
Berg, a fourth-year Resident Artist at AVA, is from Gladstone, New Jersey. He earned his bachelor’s degree in vocal performance from Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music and previously studied in the Pre-College Division at The Juilliard School. His past training includes participation in programs at the Aspen Music Festival and School and the Music Academy of the West.
Franzino, a second-year Resident Artist at AVA, is a mezzo-soprano from Orlando, Florida. She earned both her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida State University. Her recent roles at AVA include Mistress Quickly in Falstaff, Romeo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi, and Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro.
AVA congratulates Berg and Franzino on their recognition and looks forward to following their progress in the next round of the competition.