2025-2026 New Orleans District Judges

Harry Silverstein

Arts Administrator, Voice teacher, and Singer.

Harry Silverstein has professionally directed over 100 productions of 45 operas on 5 continents. His work has been seen in such theaters as Lyric Opera of Chicago, San Francisco Opera, English National Opera, New York City Opera, Houston Grand Opera, and many international houses.

Harry Silverstein is Professor Emeritus of Opera at DePaul University in Chicago where he was the Director of DePaul Opera Theatre from 1990 to 2023 and taught performing skills to a number of today’s most successful opera singers.

Roger Pines

Lecturer, writer, broadcaster, and career consultant for singers.

Roger Pines is recognized nationally and internationally as an expert in the field of opera, encompassing writing, lecturing, broadcasting, adjudicating, and repertoire research/consultation. His voice is familiar to a large radio audience from appearances on the Metropolitan Opera broadcasts’ “Opera Quiz,” for which he has been a panelist since the 2005-06 season.

Jennifer Rowley

Arts Administrator, Voice teacher, and Singer.

Ms. Rowley is deeply committed to mentoring the next generation of opera artists, carrying forward the legacy of her own mentor, Martina Arroyo. In 2022, she launched Jennifer Rowley’s Aria Bootcamp in Sarasota, FL, which evolved into a fully-fledged young artist training program and non-profit by 2023. Her dedication to nurturing talent extends to regular artist residencies with young artist programs and an annual residency at her alma mater, Baldwin Wallace University Conservatory of Music.

2025-2026 Gulf Coast Region Judges

John Churchwell

Coach, Conductor, and Arts Administrator.

John Churchwell served as head of music for San Francisco Opera for the past 14 years. Prior to this appointment, he served as an assistant conductor for both the Metropolitan Opera and San Francisco Opera.

On the recital stage, Mr. Churchwell has partnered with some of today’s most sought-after vocalists, including appearances at the Hollywood Bowl with Ellie Dehn, San Francisco Symphony with Michael Fabiano, and recitals with Renée Fleming, Sasha Cooke, Lawrence Brownlee, Lisette Oropesa, Joyce DiDonato, Susanna Phillips, Isabel Leonard, and Aryeh Nussbaum Cohen. 

Victoria Livengood

Voice teacher and Singer.

Grammy Award Winner and Metropolitan Opera veteran, Victoria Livengood, has been hailed as “one of the leading singer-actresses of her generation,” as well as one of the most in-demand voice teachers in the world. 

The Thomasville, NC native skyrocketed onto the opera scene as a winner of the Metropolitan Opera National Council auditions, and became known for her dynamic portrayals in more than 125 Met performances, including the title role of Carmen!

Ms. Livengood has sung over one hundred different roles with opera companies throughout North America, South America, Europe, Canada and Asia, throughout a career that spans four decades.

Dr. Livengood holds honorary doctorate degrees from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and from Jacksonville University. She is also an inductee into the North Carolina Musicians Hall of Fame, alongside such greats as Andy Griffith and James Taylor.

“Miss Vickie” is in demand for her highly acclaimed Master Classes across the globe, has private voice studios in both North Carolina and New York City with over 100 students.  She also serves frequently as a judge for the Metropolitan Opera Laffont competition across the country, giving back to the program that launched her illustrious career.

Ms. Livengood will be leading a public Master Class on Monday, February 2, 2025 at Roussel Hall for selected Gulf Coast Singers. Please go to our Events Page for more information about being in the audience.

2025-2026 Gulf Coast Accompanist

Michael Borowitz

Accompanist, Conductor, Artistic Director

Michael Borowitz is currently in his seventh year as Music Director and Associate Professor of LSU Opera, where this season he will conduct performances of Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd, Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Mikado, Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri, and a program of scenes from contemporary opera in English, entitled Opera NOW!

In his fifth season as Music Director, and first year as Artistic Director with Opéra Louisiane, he will conduct performances of Humperdinck’s Hansel and Gretel, and Gilbert and Sullivan’s The Pirates of Penzance.

He just returned from his second summer in Novafeltria, Italy with La Musica Lirica conducting performances of Rossini’s L’Italiana in Algeri.

His current recordings (all on the Albany label) include Offenbach’s Bluebeard, Kern’s The Cabaret Girl, Herbert’s Mlle. Modiste (also released on DVD by Operetta Archives), and Gilbert and Sullivan’s Ruddigore and Patience. Newly released on DVD by Operetta Archives is Mr. Borowitz conducting the 2007 Ohio Light Opera production of Kálmán’s The Duchess of Chicago.