Illinois District

The Illinois District is based in Chicago, IL and feeds into the Central Region along with the Indiana and Kentucky Districts. The Illinois District Council is a community-based group of volunteers interested in promoting young operatic artists within the area. 100% of funds raised by our volunteers and partnering community organizations directly benefit singers engaged in The Laffont Competition.

Competition participants choose the Illinois District after advancing from the season's qualifying round. Typically 2 to 4 winners are chosen at the Illinois District competition and advance to the Central Region Finals. A single district winner is typically awarded $1,000, however prizes vary year to year. Other monetary prizes such as encouragement awards are often given at the judges' discretion.

Winner(s) of the Central Region Finals advance to New York to participate in the National Semi-Finals, a competition held on the stage of the Metropolitan Opera. Approximately ten of the Semi-Finalists are selected as National Finalists and compete the following Sunday in a public concert, the Grand Finals Concert, accompanied by the Metropolitan Opera Orchestra. The jury awards approximately five Grand Winner awards of $15,000 each. The concert is broadcast nationwide on the Metropolitan Opera Radio Network. The remaining National Finalists receive $5,000 each, and those singers who were National Semi-Finalists but did not advance to the National Finals will be given $1,500 to further their studies.