Lydia Grindatto expressed her excitement and disbelief after winning the Fernand Lamesch Award at the Metropolitan Opera Eric and Dominique Laffont Competition. Grindatto, an alumna of The University of New Mexico, shared, “It feels a little bit surreal because this competition was something that I’d always heard about in school and as I was going through training. It’s such a big deal and so I never assumed that I would go on to be in the finals, much less win. It just feels so surreal and very exciting.”
Grindatto's journey to success was not without challenges. She diligently prepared for the competition by selecting arias she connected with and refining them with vocal coaches. Despite the difficulty of the competition, she persevered and focused on improving her vocal skills through extensive practice.
Reflecting on her time at UNM, Grindatto credited the university for providing her with the foundational academic skills necessary for her opera career. She expressed gratitude towards the faculty in the Department of Music for their mentorship and coaching during and after her studies.
Michael Hix, chair of the Department of Music at UNM, expressed pride in Grindatto's achievements, stating, “From her very first semester at UNM, we knew she was destined for success. While she possessed natural talent, it was her work ethic, intellectual curiosity, and drive that really made her shine.”
Grindatto's vocal coaches, Olga Perez Flora and Kristin Ditlow, were thrilled with her success at the competition. Perez Flora shared, “She studied with me for two years post-college and our goals were for her to win the Met and go to AVA. She accomplished both of those goals.”
Looking ahead, Grindatto is set to join the San Francisco Opera’s Merola Opera Program later this year, further solidifying her position as a rising star in the opera world.
