Matt Curtis got an early birthday present last weekend when he earned an award at the Metropolitan Opera auditions in Iowa.

Curtis, a Viterbo University senior who turns 22 Wednesday, won a $400 encouragement award at the Iowa district Met auditions at Iowa State University. He was one of four singers to win an encouragement award among the field of 37 singers.
A La Crosse Aquinas graduate, Curtis is the third Viterbo student this school year to win encouragement awards at Met auditions. Viterbo seniors Sarah Shestak of Bryant, Wis., and Andrew Kroes of Onalaska, Wis., won awards at the Milwaukee district auditions last fall.

Daniel Johnson-Wilmot, Viterbo music teacher who has Curtis and Kroes as voice students, said the school has had several Met award winners, but never three in one year.

For more about this story, see Wednesday's Tribune or return to www.lacrossetribune.com

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