Winners of the 2020-2021 Kyrenia Opera Vocal Competition

1^st place in the Young Artist Division:
Jose Simerilla Romero, Tenor

Praised for his “remarkably tender bright ringing tone” (Orlando Sentinel) and “shimmering high notes” (Seen and Heard International), rising young Argentinian – American tenor Jose Simerilla Romero joins the studio of the Dutch National Opera in the 2020-21 season, where his roles will include Wagner and Nereo in Mefistofele, the Messenger in Aida, and Boy 1 in Trouble in Tahiti as a part of the 2021 Opera Forward Festival. He also sings Nemorino in L’elisir d’amore on tour in a coproduction with both Opera Zuid and Nederlandse Reisopera. His other upcoming engagements include Alfredo in La traviata with First Coast Opera.

Mr. Simerilla Romero is an Award Winner from the Vienna International Music Competition and the Orpheus Vocal Competition, a finalist in the Rising Star International Competition with Vero Beach Opera, a 1st Place Winner at the Glory International Music Competition, and a Winner in the Florida District of the Metropolitan Opera National Council Auditions. He has participated in Houston Grand Opera’s Young Artist Vocal Academy, the LA Opera Young Artist Program, the Carnegie Hall Weill Music Institute, and holds degrees from both Valencia College and Stetson University.

1^st place in the Student Division:
Lindsey Reynolds, Soprano

American soprano Lindsey Reynolds is currently pursuing her Master of Music at the Curtis Institute of Music, under the tutelage of Julia Faulkner. She is a recipient of the Florence Kirk Keppel Fellow.

A versatile artist, Reynolds repertoire encompasses opera, concerts, and interarts collaboration. In her 2020/21 season, Ms. Reynolds will be a featured soloist in Opera Philadelphia’s Lawrence Brownlee and Friends Concert, Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito, and select scenes as Gilda and Adina in Curtis Opera Theatre’s Opera on Demand. This summer, Lindsey looks forward to being a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis where she will sing Soprano Soloist in Highway 1, USA, cover Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi and be featured in the Center Stage Showcase. In her the 2019/2020 season, she debuted as Miss. Wordsworth in Albert Herring, and Servilia in La Clemenza di Tito (Postponed due to COVID-19). Also, Lindsey sang in the Curtis Symphony Orchestra concert of Mozart Scenes under the baton of Maestro Yannick Nézet-Séguin where she sang Despina in Cosi fan tutte’s Act 1 Finale and Susanna in Le Nozze di Figaro’s Act 4 Finale. Lindsey was selected as a Gerdine Young Artist at Opera Theatre of Saint Louis where she would have debuted the role of Lily in the world premiere of Awakenings by Tobias Picker and Aryeh Lev Stollman (Canceled due to COVID-19).

Mrs. Reynolds is from New Orleans, Louisiana and currently resides in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In may 2020, Lindsey received her Undergraduate degree from Curtis Institute of Music.

Cyprus Singer Award:
Constantina Nicolaou, Soprano

Soprano Constantina Nicolaou was born in Nicosia, Cyprus. In 2016 she graduated from the Music High School of Nicosia with distinction in singing. She has been studying at the University of Music and Performing Arts in Vienna since 2017 and since 2019 under the guidance of Prof. Margit Klaushofer. She has participated in various masterclasses with acclaimed musicians and artists such as Laura Aikin, Giovanni Reggioli, Dona D. Vaughn, Paolo Pecchioli, Elizabeth de Trejo, Will Crutchfield, Danielle Orlando, Emmanuel Olivier, Claudia Visca and Aris Christofellis. Her previous engagements include a production of Hänsel und Gretel as Sandmädchen/Taumännchen at Schlosstheater Schönbrunn, concerts at the Greek and Cypriot Embassies in Vienna. In additIon she has performed in “Russsian nights”-concert at Bösendorfer Salon, Musikverein in Vienna. Upcoming engagements include Dido and Aeneas (1st Witch) and a Gala concert in Brahms Saal, Musikverein Vienna in November 2021.