Simpson College graduate and former Des Moines Metro Opera apprentice artist John Michael Moore was recently named one of nine finalists at the Metropolitan Opera's National Council auditions.

While a student at Simpson, Moore sang many roles in opera and musical theater, including Papageno in “The Magic Flute” and Billy Bigelow in “Carousel.” Moore, a 2005 graduate, will return to Indianola this summer to again play Papageno in the Des Moines Metro Opera’s production of “The Magic Flute.” He is currently one of Minnesota Opera’s resident artists, and recently sang Masetto in Minnesota Opera’s production of Mozart’s “Don Giovanni.”

The Metropolitan Opera finalists were selected through several rounds of state, regional and national competition, and represent some of the most promising young artists in the nation. In January Moore won the Iowa District Metropolitan auditions and went on to win the regional audition in Minneapolis. In the New York auditions on March 26 he was named to the winners circle and awarded $5,000 along with the opportunity to audition for the Met School.

The winners' concert will be broadcast on WOI radio at 2:30 p.m. on May 13.