The purpose of the National Council Auditions Program, sponsored by the Metropolitan Opera, is to find exceptionally talented opera singers and to assist them in their development, to discover new talent for the Metropolitan Opera, and to search for possible participants in the Young Artist Development Program of the Met.

Applicants must have a voice with operatic potential; exceptional quality, range, projection, charisma, communication and natural beauty. Voice training and musical background is a requirement. They must demonstrate an ability to sing correctly in more than one language, and give evidence of artistic aptitude.

Applicants must be prepared to sing five operatic arias in the original languages and keys and in more than one language and contrasting styles. The New England program is supported almost entirely by its patrons through a fund campaign in the fall and ticket sales for the February Finals Auditions Concert.