Michelle Mariposa, a rising Filipina mezzo-soprano, has achieved a milestone that many young opera singers only dream of—winning the 2025 Laffont Competition at the Metropolitan Opera in New York on March 16.
She was one of five winners among nine finalists, earning a $20,000 grant. But more importantly, this victory opens doors to the world’s most prestigious opera stages.
Emerging from a field of over 1,500 applicants across the U.S., Michelle advanced through rigorous rounds to become one of 20 semifinalists, then one of the nine finalists who performed at the Met.
At 30—the maximum age for the competition—she seized her final opportunity to compete, delivering two contrasting arias: a dazzling bel canto showcase from Rossini’s “Semiramide,” which required breathtaking agility and precision, and a deeply expressive aria from Massenet’s “Werther,” where she revealed her dramatic depth. Performing in both Italian and French, she demonstrated not only linguistic versatility but also mastery of diverse vocal styles.
To mark the occasion, Michelle made a striking statement of her Filipino heritage by wearing a stunning yellow terno, custom-made by designer Frankie de Leon.
A rising star with a story to tell
Michelle’s journey to opera was not a conventional one. She initially pursued a career in medicine, earning a summa cum laude degree in Psychology at the University of the Philippines in 2016. However, the emotional toll of the field led her to reconsider, and she followed her true calling—music. In 2021, she earned her second summa cum laude degree, this time in Music, also from UP.
Even during her psychology studies, music had been part of her life. She used singing as a way to connect with and uplift children in psychiatric facilities, blending both her passions in a way that would eventually define her career.
Michelle went on to earn a full scholarship at Northwestern University’s Bienen School of Music, where she completed her Master’s in Voice and Opera Performance in 2023. She is currently a resident young artist at the Washington National Opera.
A career on the rise
Before this triumph, Michelle had already been steadily building an impressive career. She was part of the Washington National Opera’s Cafritz Young Artist program and won the Richard Gaddis Career Award. She made her debuts with Opera Theatre of Saint Louis, Haymarket Opera, and Chicago Opera Theater, and also became a young artist with Santa Fe Opera.
In 2024, she received the Lynne Cooper Harvey Foundation Award from the Musicians Club of Women Vocal Competition. She was also named a 2023 Sullivan Award winner by the Sullivan Foundation and earned an Encouragement Award in the Met Opera’s Central Region Laffont Competition.
“She’s a dream to work with—easygoing, friendly, and professional, with no diva attitude. She always comes prepared for rehearsals, listens intently, and knows how to discern good advice,” said her coach, Christopher Arceo.
Carrying the legacy of Filipino opera
Opera aficionados in the Philippines are beaming with pride. With this victory, Michelle Mariposa stands on the brink of global recognition, poised to become only the second Filipina—after soprano Evelyn Mandac—to make a mark on the world’s most prestigious opera stages. Mandac made history in 1966, paving the way for Filipino talent in international opera.
In 2005, Filipino tenor Rodell Rosel, originally from Manila, won the Laffont Competition (formerly known as the Met Opera National Council Auditions). Since then, he has graced opera stages worldwide and was even nominated for a Grammy Award in 2018 for Best Opera Recording.
Now, nearly six decades after Mandac’s breakthrough and two decades after Rosel’s triumph, Michelle Mariposa—this time, a mezzo-soprano—is ready to take flight.
From soprano Mandac to tenor Rosel, and now mezzo-soprano Mariposa, Filipino voices continue to resonate on the world’s greatest opera stages—proving that the Philippines is a force to be reckoned with in the world of classical music.
